West Australian Indigenous Affairs Minister Cannot Promise Funding For More Interpreters In The Region

Indigenous Affairs Minister Peter Collier says he cannot promise funding for more Indigenous interpreters in regional Western Australia, despite news a baby died in the Kimberley because of language barriers.

Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson says the child died because its mother did not understand a doctor’s instructions about how to administer a medicine.

The baby’s death was brought to light by a project officer who spent 12 months travelling through the Pilbara, Kimberley and Goldfields.

Mr Collier says it is a tragic case but all requests for funding will have to be considered under the normal budget process.