‘Systemic racism at work’: Sydney council plan for compulsory English shop signage condemned as ‘kind of crazy’

Strathfield council plan ridiculed for making life harder for small business and failing to consult local communitiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlong a bustling street in Sydney’s west, Asian grocers sit alongside Nepalese restaurants displaying images of the tantalising curries inside. Here, on one of Strathfield’s busiest commercial streets, a Nepalese grocer is nestled between a 7-Eleven and a medical clinic. Two doors down, a butcher run by the same owners welcomes customers with a sign that reads “Strathfield Veggie Shed” in Nepali.Bilingual signs are common in Sydney’s west. It is a similar scene in other major cities, such as Melbourne’s Box Hill where almost 30% of residents were born in China and many shops signs include Chinese characters alongside English text. Continue reading...