Queensland Consolidated Regulations

UNIFORM CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES 1999 - REG 429VL

429VL Court may give directions in relation to interpreters

(1) The court may at any time, having regard to the nature of a proceeding (including the type of allegations made in the proceeding and the characteristics of the parties and witnesses), give directions relating to 1 or more of the following matters—

(a) any particular attributes required or not required for an interpreter to accommodate any cultural or other reasonable concerns of a party or a witness, including, but not limited to—

(i) gender; and

(ii) age; and

(iii) ethnic, cultural or social background;

(b) the number of interpreters required in the proceeding and whether relay interpreting should be used;

(c) establishing the expertise of an interpreter;

(d) the steps to be taken to obtain an interpreter who is certified, registered or recognised by a recognised agency or is otherwise qualified to act as an interpreter;

(e) the steps to be taken before an order under rule 429VG is made;

(f) the information about the proceeding that may be provided to a person in advance of any hearing in the proceeding to assist the person to prepare to act as an interpreter for the hearing, including, but not limited to—

(i) pleadings; and

(ii) affidavits and statements; and

(iii) lists of witnesses; and

(iv) other documents;

(g) when, and in what circumstances and under what conditions (if any), the information mentioned in paragraph (f) may be provided;

(h) whether an interpreter is to interpret a witness’s evidence consecutively, simultaneously or in some other way;

(i) other resources an interpreter may need to consult in the course of acting as an interpreter, including, for example, dictionaries and other reference works;

(j) the length of time for which an interpreter should interpret during a hearing without a break;

(k) security for an interpreter, including, if necessary, arrangements to preserve the anonymity of the interpreter;

(l) practical matters relating to an interpreter, including, for example, the seating for and the location of the interpreter, and any necessary equipment to assist the interpreter;

(m) the disqualification, removal or withdrawal of an interpreter, including on the application of the interpreter or any party to the proceeding or by the court on its own initiative;

(n) the payment of interpreters;

(o) any other direction the court considers appropriate.

(2) Subrule (1) does not limit the generality of the court’s power to control its own procedures.