Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be a read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). Had it been successful, it would have added the words below to the usual motion.

Amendment text

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".