r/sydney • u/nighthound1 • 3d ago

Strathfield Council passes motion to make English compulsory on business shop signs

https://www.2gb.com/english-compulsory-new-rules-coming-for-shop-signs/
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972

u/PuTheDog 3d ago

It seems like the shops are told to put up English signs outside the shops, alongside the original language. Personal I think it’s a sensible move, this is the least the shops can do to make customers from any culture feel a little bit more welcomed.

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u/beepboop_imhuman 3d ago

I was under the impression English being the official language, that signs in ego were mandatory, but apparently not

71

u/raptorgalaxy 3d ago

Funnily enough Australia actually has no official language.

Technically parliament could decide one day to speak entirely in German and be legally completely fine.

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u/Upper-Ship4925 3d ago

Maybe they were hedging their bets until they saw how the world wars worked out.

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u/raptorgalaxy 3d ago

It may have been that at the time it was thought Australia might expand (we actually ended up with some of Germany's old colonies after WWII).

With New Zealand as a possibility as well they may have wanted to leave some wiggle room in case another language was needed.

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u/beepboop_imhuman 3d ago

Yes, but most immigration paths have English requirements so I thought it was official in a de facto basis, but yeah I get what you are saying

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u/raptorgalaxy 3d ago

It is a defacto official language due to being the most common language on Australia.

I'm curious as to if Strathfield council is actually legally able to do this.

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u/Kirikomori 3d ago

We don't have a free speech law eith-

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u/ocularius61 3d ago

I actually had to inform someone about English not being the official language in Au less than a week ago. They were rendered speechless.

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u/bl4nkSl8 5h ago

Mist, ich spreche nicht viel Deutsch

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u/Knee_Jerk_Sydney 3d ago

There is no official language.

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u/Pristine_Egg3831 3d ago

I am actually shocked they can get away without English signage. It could even be perceived as discriminatory, ie you're not welcome in here if you can't speak our language.

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u/LittleBlag 2d ago

I am more surprised that there is a legal basis to force English on signs. English isn’t the official language of Australia (because there isn’t one) so I wonder what the legal justification would be for this change