Since the introduction of multiculturalism in the mid-1970s, linguistic diversity of the Australian residents has been an element of policy formulation and the provision of translation has become a way for policy to be performed. A national policy on languages that explicitly covers translation does exist in Australia. However, it is the cross-portfolio convention of handling language barriers in the provision of government services and beyond that accounts for translation. It is conceptualized here rather as a means for service delivery.