Home Affairs Secretary Gains Powers to Provide Translating and Interpreting Services
Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025
House of Representatives
Senate
Assent
Topics
communication support interpreting services language access migrant services translating services
Introduced by: The Hon Dr Anne Aly MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Dr Anne Aly ALP
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Australia’s translating and interpreting services have a long history and play a vital role in our community.”
Alex Hawke LIB
“The opposition supports the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This legislation is technical and administrative. The legislation provides a statutory basis for the provision of important translating and interpreting services. It addresses an issue raised in the Auditor-General’s report No. 28 of 2014-15 with respect to authorisation for the charging of fees.”
“What do Shona, Pulaar, Sinhalese, Dinka and Zo all have in common? These are languages from southern Africa, West Africa, Sri Lanka, South Sudan and Burma. All are offered by the TIS, the Translating and Interpreting Service. They are part of the 155 different languages and dialects supported.”
Barnaby Joyce PHON
“There is one strong point of difference I have with the previous speaker, and that is that I don’t believe in multiculturalism. I believe that there overwhelmingly is an Australian culture and that the Australian culture itself provides guardrails that temper what, in some instances, might be alternative views that work at angles to what is acceptable in Australia.”
Julian Hill ALP
“I’ll just respond to a couple of points made there. All Australians are equal under the law, whatever language they speak and whatever culture they have. I don’t think there’d be anyone here who would disagree with that. I’ll point you towards—you’ve probably read it but not recently—the Hawke government’s 1989 statement on multicultural Australia.”
Sam Lim ALP
“I’m pleased to speak to the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This bill is about providing a clear statutory framework for the essential services that TIS National has provided for more than 75 years. Their services have benefited so many Australians.”
Steve Georganas ALP
“I rise to speak on and support the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill today because translating and interpreting services have always held a special place in Australia’s story. When you look at Australia’s story, we look at our wonderful multicultural story. We have people that live here, that settle here, from all over the world. Language is more than words.”
Jo Briskey ALP
“Following the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi, the Prime Minister observed that we take pride in the fact our country is enriched by both the world’s oldest continuous culture and people of every background and tradition, who have enriched our nation with their hard work and their aspiration. That statement speaks to the enduring strength of Australia as a multicultural nation.”
Anne Stanley ALP
“Dealing with the complexities of life is difficult at the best of times. Paperwork, red tape, rules, regulations and just paying bills take up an incredible amount of time, not to mention patience. Then, of course, there’s the issue of computers. If the connection isn’t down, then the printer can almost certainly be jammed.”
Gabriel Ng ALP
“I rise today in support of the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. The Translating and Interpreting Service, or TIS National, is an absolutely essential service that ensures that all Australians can fully participate in our civil life, our communities and our economy.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025. This bill is about supporting our multicultural community. It’s about making sure that members of our multicultural community are looked after.”
“Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world. Our story is one of migration—of people arriving on this continent from every corner of the globe, bringing with them skills, traditions, faiths, languages and hopes for a better future. Australians come from all walks of life and from almost every country on earth.”
Tim Ayres ALP
“I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted.”