Sounds like Old Mate's trampled on a bunch of council rules then decided he didn't need to follow the court orders about said trampling. He had years to work it out and didn't. The language barrier is no excuse at all. Not speaking English doesn't absolve you of obligations to the court or law.
this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2026
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This is one of those "if everybody did that" rules. Sure, it's irksome to be told what you can or can not do in the privacy of your own home. However, if everybody set up a cottage industry in their back yard it would cause obvious problems.
If a neighbor complained, there's a good chance there were odors or pests or whatever. Case in point really.
At the risk of sounding stupid, what would the problems caused by a large number of people making their own cheese be?
Making your own cheese is fine. Making commercial quantities is problematic. Mostly related to hygiene, but also quiet enjoyment of neighbours.
It would attract Dutch people.
It would undermine the capital leverage of the ruling class, obviously.
Small scale domestic cheese production would be fine. I doubt this article and $120k fine are for a small scale operation.
so it's a greek guy who moved to oz in 1990, but didn't understand the court order of 2020 because he didn't speak english... how do you live 30 years there and don't learn english?!
edit: typo
Yeah, I thought some degree of English aptitude would be required for citizenship/visas. Though it does also state he wrote in correspondence so could be just an attempt to curry leniency.
to busy making cheese. I don't blame them.. leave his cheeses alone
Why would he need to? We have no official language, and theres Greek communities he can interact with.
lol not learning the language of the place you move to and have lived for 30+ years? Just because there’s no official language?
Imagine having this level of entitlement in any other country, especially a non English speaking one
What language? We’re a multicultural country, not an English colony.
Am I meant to be learning Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung? Because that’s who’s land I moved to.
You should definitely learn whichever languages the government uses to sue you with. This is true for every country on earth
Most large countries have lots of languages and if you don’t learn at least 1 that they use for government forms and law you are not being a responsible person
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/information-your-language?context=64107
We offer information in as many languages as we can and provide translation services for those who need it.
The person in the story speaks one of the most common languages in the country and would have had zero issue in understanding what was requested of them if they actually wanted to. Them claiming not to know is frankly utter bullshit.
I’m proud of being in a multicultural country, I understand it’s a concept foreign to most of the world who aren’t used to it. But it works well and we have an extremely high quality of life.
Yes, precisely, they are a bad actor trying to take advantage.
He needs to know the exact amount of English to simply request translation services because you have a generous government willing to do so. That is all I am saying. There is no avoiding that minimal amount of accountability. In a country with an official language or a place where they don’t do that he would be obligated to learn.
Blessed are the cheesemakers.
Huh, although I suppose it could apply to any maker of dairy products
"Backyard cheese facility" is one hilarious innuendo.
"I have to bring in a specialist to help out with my backyard cheese facility"
😳
D’day curd nerds
And the comments section is full of Italians telling him to go fuck himself
Now I want pizza.