Family ties a barrier to Indigenous justice: interpreter

ABC News reports: Indigenous language interpreter says kinship ties are presenting major difficulties for courts and denying Aboriginal defendants fair hearings.  He also says low wages for interpreters are a barrier to recruitment of more Aboriginal interpreters.

Former Mission superintendent and retired Univeristy lecturer, Bill Edwards has 40 years’ experience interpreting for Pitjantjatjara people in South Australia.

Bill Edwards says hiring non-Aboriginal interpreters may solve some of the problems, as court sources say defendants are being kept in custody for longer than desirable because of continuing delays in court proceedings.

However Bill indicates there are other possible solutions to this issue and it would be interesting to hear more of these ideas.