Politics

Auslan Interpreters Will No Longer Be A Permanent Part Of NSW Press Conferences

Dominic Perrottet has scaled back Auslan interpreters just as NSW starts to reopen.

by Millie Roberts  12 October 2021
Auslan

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

Auslan interpreters have been notably absent at the last few NSW press conferences, with questions brewing for new Premier Dominic Perrottet over accessibility for the hearing impaired as the state begins to reopen.

Human rights lawyers expressed their concerns after there were no visible sign language interpreters on October 10 and 11, when Perrottet gave announcements from pubs to celebrate NSW coming out of lockdown for the fully vaxxed.

Signers have been championed for their work during the pandemic, as staple figures helping to relay vital health information to the deaf community.

“Press conferences regarding COVID-19 are a fundamental source of information to the public to know the latest in an ever-shifting environment,” said Australian Lawyers for Human Rights‘ Vice President and Disability Rights Subcommittee Chair, in a statement on Tuesday. “Failure to provide this information in an accessible manner, in real-time, violates the human rights of people with disability, and places them at great risk.”

The Office of the NSW Premier confirmed to Junkee that the presence of Auslan interpreters would be scaled back amongst lockdown restrictions lifting. “As NSW returns to a more normal setting, and emerges from COVID-19 there will be a range of media events some of which may include the services of Auslan interpreters and some of which may not.”

Interpreters will continue to be present at events coordinated by NSW Health for public health updates, or where the Chief Health Officer or Deputy are in attendance, they said.

NSW Health had worked with the Deaf Society to provide Auslan interpreters over the past few months. The Deaf Society were unable to comment during the transition period, but emphasised to Junkee the importance of their staff for conveying crucial information more broadly.