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Man who failed to remove backyard cheese facility told to pay $120,000 (www.abc.net.au)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/australia@aussie.zone
24 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

In short:

An Adelaide man has been found guilty of contempt of court after ignoring court orders to remove an unauthorised cheese facility built in his backyard.

The Environment, Resources and Development Court found retiree John Kitsis "wilfully disobeyed" court orders.

What's next?

He was ordered to pay court costs exceeding $120,000.

all 24 comments

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[–] 38 points 9 months ago* (6 children)

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.

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  • [–] 17 points 9 months ago (5 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 5 points 9 months ago (4 children)

    At the risk of sounding stupid, what would the problems caused by a large number of people making their own cheese be?

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    • [–] 21 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (8 children)

    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

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago (5 children)

    Why would he need to? We have no official language, and theres Greek communities he can interact with.

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  • [–] 12 points 9 months ago (4 children)

    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

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  • [–] 0 points 9 months ago (3 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 12 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    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

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  • [–] 8 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    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.

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  • [–] 7 points 9 months ago

    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.

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    • [–] 21 points 9 months ago

    I bet that cheese is amazing. Shame he didn't get it up and running properly.

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    [–] 17 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Blessed are the cheesemakers.

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    • [–] 14 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    "Backyard cheese facility" is one hilarious innuendo.

    "I have to bring in a specialist to help out with my backyard cheese facility"

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    • [–] 9 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    D’day curd nerds

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    • [–] 6 points 9 months ago

    Now I want pizza.

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