Queensland Consolidated Acts

OATHS ACT 1867 - SECT 30

30 Where witness and prisoner are of different languages—first interpreter’s oaths

(1) When on any criminal trial a witness and the prisoner do not speak English fluently but speak different languages and an interpreter can be found conversant with the languages of the prisoner and the witness and able to interpret between them and a second interpreter can be found conversant with the English and with any language with which the first interpreter is conversant and able to interpret from the lastnamed language into English the first interpreter may be sworn through the second interpreter in open court in the following form or to the like effect—
‘You swear that you understand the several languages of the witness and the prisoner and are able to interpret between them So help you God.’
‘You shall well and truly interpret and true explanation make between the witness and the prisoner at the bar and the prisoner at the bar and the witness and between them and each of them and the court and jury and all interpreters witnesses and persons whatsoever to the best of your knowledge skill and ability and the evidence you shall give to the court and jury sworn between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the prisoner at the bar shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth So help you God.’.

(2) And whatever be the number of interpreters necessary before the statements of the prisoner and the witness can be interpreted into one and the same language and into English the same forms of oath shall be administered mutatis mutandis to each interpreter in the succession and the like provision shall apply in civil causes as far as may be.