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Video description: a young lady wearing a blue and white thinly striped shirt standing in front of a cream coloured background signing in Auslan about an exciting announcement she has regarding her local MP Jerome Laxale. Her face expression demonstrates varying levels of excitement as she relays her news.
Video transcript: Hello! I have really exciting news I want to share with you all. This video is made in my personal capacity, not related to my business or professional roles or Deaf organisations; this is personal.
You know I love learning how the operating of government and politics work and other related topics. I’ve been advocating for some time regarding the absence of interpreters in public life, and the lack of access to information which is so important for the Deaf community.
One month ago I had the opportunity to finally meet with my local Federal MP, named Jerome Laxale. It was a really positive meeting, discussing Deaf issues, for example, why access to interpreters is important and the assumption that captions are a form of access is incorrect. I talked about NDIS, EAF and several other things. He took in what I said, noted them down and it looked altogether a positive experience. The meeting concluded and then yesterday he contacted me to request a meeting to announce something exciting. I agreed and we met online; he told me he finished requesting the Speaker of the House of Representatives (the green room) to provide an interpreter for his very own maiden speech to happen in 4 days’ time, on Monday afternoon. How exciting!! He felt inspired by both the meeting we had a month ago and on seeing David Pocock’s maiden speech with an interpreter. Jerome thought it was a good opportunity to start this and create a snowball effect. When I saw this, I was like wow! I felt so inspired and fortunate to have him as my local MP in Bennelong. I feel enthused and motivated;
I’m appreciative of this initiative and I hope other MPs take this opportunity to do the same, thus generating positive change. Hopefully, this means that the provision of interpreters without question becomes a reality. I want to thank Jerome for working to make this happen. I have also been invited as a special guest to be present to see the speech in person on Monday. I feel honoured and keen to go, I will provide you with an update on what happens next. It’s perfect timing given that NWDP is coming up very soon. This is an achievement worthy of celebrating!
I strongly encourage you to contact your local MP, meet and consult over the things you as a Deaf person want to focus on, talk about the barriers you experience, and advocate for yourself. It could help create change like this exciting development.
Cheers!
