❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier regarding interpreter services for Indigenous people in the justice system, particularly concerning detention and funding cuts to the Kimberley Interpreting Service. The Premier deflects responsibility to the Attorney General and claims justice is not impeded by interpreter reductions.
AnsweredQoN 907Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INDIGENOUS INCARCERATION RATES —
INTERPRETER SERVICES — ACCESS
907. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to —
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : And
to think I bought you all a gift.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Don't give it to them.
Mr B.S. WYATT : No,
I do not think I will.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, member. Let us go.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right, thank you. We are not going into holiday arrangements! Question!
Mr B.S. WYATT :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : And
just as old, member.
I refer to the comments made by Chief Justice Wayne Martin
about the ''obvious and direct link'' between access to
interpreter services and the number of Aboriginal people in prisons and that
court cases involving Indigenous accused who have English as their second
language will no longer proceed without an interpreter.
(1) How will
the government ensure that those affected will not remain indefinitely detained
due to not having access to interpreter services?
(2) Will the
Premier now commit to fully funding services to the Kimberley Interpreting
Service, which the government cut funding to last year?
INTERPRETER SERVICES — ACCESS
907. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to —
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : And
to think I bought you all a gift.
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
Don't give it to them.
Mr B.S. WYATT : No,
I do not think I will.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, member. Let us go.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right, thank you. We are not going into holiday arrangements! Question!
Mr B.S. WYATT :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : And
just as old, member.
I refer to the comments made by Chief Justice Wayne Martin
about the ''obvious and direct link'' between access to
interpreter services and the number of Aboriginal people in prisons and that
court cases involving Indigenous accused who have English as their second
language will no longer proceed without an interpreter.
(1) How will
the government ensure that those affected will not remain indefinitely detained
due to not having access to interpreter services?
(2) Will the
Premier now commit to fully funding services to the Kimberley Interpreting
Service, which the government cut funding to last year?
AnswerView source ↗
I think that comes under the responsibility of the Attorney
General.
(1)–(2)
Yes, there was a reduction in the numbers of interpreters available. It is our
view that that is not impeding justice. It is not impeding justice at all.
General.
(1)–(2)
Yes, there was a reduction in the numbers of interpreters available. It is our
view that that is not impeding justice. It is not impeding justice at all.
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