The move was met with backlash and a call to revert to the old model
Court Services Victoria has altered the model it applies in engaging court interpreters, which has resulted in cuts to their working hours and pay.
Initially, court interpreters were hired for half or full day contracts; however, the organisation transitioned recently to engaging interpreters for 60- or 90-minute sessions, with options to extend in 15-minute increments or as needed.
Professional Australia Victorian director Scott Crawford said that the move “means court interpreters are facing uncertainty around the courts’ expectations and consequently be inhibited in their ability to earn a living wage”.
“This makes it impossible for interpreters to plan their workday and severely undermines their capacity to earn a reliable income”, he explained.
Crawford pointed out that court interpreters’ pay had not increased in six years. He added that the change is a show of discrimination against linguistically diverse (CaLD) and Deaf communities as the unfavourable conditions would result in a shortage of court interpreters.
He highlighted how court proceedings have already been impacted by this lack.
“Recently, a Russian-speaking woman fleeing domestic violence and staying at a refuge was accused and subsequently arrested and charged with sexual harassment of a teenage boy. Not being able to speak English, and not being provided with an interpreter during the initial police interview or the first day of court, her legal rights were not explained to her. As a result of the charges of which she was fully acquitted at a later date, she lost custody of her children and has not been able to restore it to this day”, he said.
Crawford said that the changes were “an extremely poor outcome for the court system, which relies on the availability of court interpreters, who may simply not be available after an initial engagement of 90 minutes, to provide clear and accurate communication for all parties”.
“It is simply unacceptable for Court Services Victoria to exploit this highly skilled and professional workforce in this manner, particularly when their services are so essential to the integrity of our justice system,” he said. “We call on Court Services Victoria to immediately reinstate half and full-day engagements for court interpreters in the interests of fairness for hard-working court interpreters and for the effective and sound operation of our court system”.
