Strathfield Council, which oversees a local government area where more than 70 per cent of residents speak a language other than English, voted in favour of a motion to force local business owners to use English on their signage during an ordinary meeting late last month. Introduced by Liberal councillor Esther Kim, the motion said businesses within the local area should “ensure that where shopfront signs or advertising include languages other than English, English should also be displayed clearly and prominently”. Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said it wasn’t a “bad idea” but local councils weren’t equipped to enforce such a policy. Camera Icon Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said speaking English was part of Australia’s culture. A spokesman from the Office of Local Government said local councils were “best placed to consider the needs and views of their local communities when developing local policies”.