悉尼Strathfield市议会已通过一项议案，规定所有商业标志必须包含英文内容[1]。这项决议由四名议员投票赞成，两名投票反对[1]，旨在促进社区团结，并针对部分仅使用非英文标牌的商家[1]。该想法最初在8年前由议会提出[1]。
Strathfield地区的人口构成相当多元，该市有超过7300家企业，约73%的45000名居民使用非英文语言[1]。提议者自由党议员Esther Kim表示："当人们作为移民来到澳大利亚生活时，我们必须尊重英文是我们的共同语言"[1]。然而，这一决议引发了分歧。反对者工党议员Rory Nosworthy认为："我不确定这在Strathfield是否真的是个问题。我认为这应该由店主自己决定"[1]。当地商家也表示这不是实际存在的问题[1]。
尽管议案已通过，但议会尚未明确具体的执行方式、实施时间表、通知期限以及费用责任等关键细节[1]。
Strathfield Council in Sydney has passed a resolution requiring all commercial signage to include English text, marking the first major step forward on a proposal the council first raised eight years ago [1]. The decision, which passed with four councillors voting in favor and two opposed, aims to promote community cohesion in an area where approximately 73 percent of the 45,000 residents speak a non-English language at home [1].
Liberal councillor Esther Kim, who championed the measure, stated that "when people come as migrants, living in Australia, we have to respect that English is our common language" [1]. The proposal targets businesses that currently display signage only in languages other than English, though the council has yet to determine how the policy will be enforced, set a timeline for implementation, establish notification periods, or clarify who will bear the costs [1].
The initiative has drawn criticism from opponents who question whether it addresses a genuine local problem. Labor councillor Rory Nosworthy remarked, "I'm not sure it's an issue we have in Strathfield. I think it's up to the store owner" [1]. Some observers have also argued that the council may be overstepping its authority with the regulation [1]. Strathfield is home to more than 7,300 businesses, reflecting the area's significant linguistic diversity [1].