F76/ 40 N44
PRIME STRAINIE
FOR PRESS 24 February 1976
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF. INTERPRflTERS./ TRANSJATORS
In a joint statement the Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser,
and the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Mr
M. J. R. MacI~ ellar, said today that despite intended Budget
economies and restrictions on the Public Service, the
Government will proceed with the training and employment
of bilingual interpreters/ translators in 1976.
The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs will provide
funds for the continuation of specialised courses for the
training of interpreters/ translators at the Royal Melbourne
Institute of Technology, the Institute of Languages in the
University of New South Wales and the Canberra College of
Advanced Education.
The Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations ( Mr Street)
has been asked to investigate the possibility of assisting under
the. NEAT scheme students who enrol in courses this year for
training as interpreters/ translators. The Minister has also
been asked to ensure that every effort is made to assist
people who have successfully completed courses to obtain
appropriate employment.
The Public Service Board has been urgently asked to
review designations and work levels applying to interpreters/
translators in the Public Service. The Board's review will ./ 2
encompass action which can be taken by Departments * as well
as by the Board: to facilitate employment of persons who
have completed courses and are qualified for employment
as interpreters/ translators. 0