Sue Lines (President) Share this | Hansard source

We'll now deal with the second reading amendment circulated by Australia's Voice. The question is that the amendment on sheet 3724 be agreed to.

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) access to qualified interpreters is essential to equitable access to healthcare, justice and government services,

(ii) gaps in interpreter services contribute to adverse health outcomes, reduced access to justice and reduced access to government services,

(iii) the translating and interpreting workforce is largely migrant and feminised and experiences insecure work arrangements,

(iv) government procurement practices may contribute to downward pressure on interpreter pay and conditions, and

(v) interpreter workforce sustainability is critical to the delivery of essential government services; and

(b) calls on the Government to develop a national framework for language access and workforce sustainability in the translating and interpreting sector".