3AW host Tom Elliott slammed over ‘inappropriate’ comments on translated road safety signs

Migrants have slammed “inappropriate comments” by talk show host Tom Elliott after he criticised translating safety signs into other languages.

Migrants have slammed “inappropriate comments” by talk show host Tom Elliott after he criticised translating safety signs into other languages.

On Thursday, 3AW host Tom Elliott lambasted the TAC’s move to erect a road safety sign in Punjabi at Tarneit during his segment, saying it was doing “more harm than good”.

“The decision to translate vital communication could mean migrants don’t feel the need to learn English,” he said.

“Should we actively encourage migrants to learn English? Now I say this because one of our producers noticed a TAC sign in Tarneit in the northwestern suburbs … the sign is entirely written in Punjabi, one of India’s more popular or more widely spoken languages.

“But is that a good thing? For example, every time we have an election, you get a pamphlet explaining how to get yourself on the electoral roll, how to vote, all that sort of thing. It’s in about a dozen languages, from Vietnamese to Greek, Italian to Punjabi.

Tom Elliot. Supplied

“The more that we translate electoral documents into lots of languages, the more that we put road safety messages into lots of languages like Punjabi, the more we say to migrants you don’t have to learn English. It isn’t necessary because we’ll do the hard work for you.”

However, Federation of Indian Association of Victoria president Vasan Srinivasan slammed Elliot’s comments.

“(Comments like this) changes public thinking and morality,” Mr Srinivasan — who also advises Victoria Police’s multicultural reference council — said.

“When somebody is on the radio, they’re supposed to promote, educate and create awareness … it’s not appropriate for any journalist.

“The first and foremost duty is to create more awareness, education and inclusion.”

Vasan Srinivasan. Picture: Tony Gough

Mr Srinivasan said there was “nothing wrong” with authorities putting up a signboard in different languages to communicate key safety messages.

“If you go to Clayton or Footscray, there are signboards in Vietnamese and Mandarin ... it’s not going to change the world by having a signboard in a different language,” he said.

“Cultural input is very important. It could save many lives.

“It’s an amazing idea.”

Community advocate Venkat Ram Upparlapalle said road safety was a “priority”.

“There’s no language barrier when it comes to public safety. Critical messages like these must effectively reach all residents,” he said.

“Wyndham has a diverse population including many new migrants … While learning English is important for networking and integration, ensuring that road safety messages are accessible to everyone, especially those still improving their language skills (is) a matter of public safety, not politics.

“Translating vital information doesn’t discourage learning English; it ensures that every road user understands their responsibilities, making our streets safer for all.

“Our focus should be on reducing accidents, not restricting information.”

Sikh community leader Karan Ghandok said road safety took “precedence over anything else”.

“Though I believe we need to encourage people to learn, the language safety message needs to go out and is more important than worrying about learning English,” he said.

“Majority of the Indian migration happens through the student route. Their English language skills are pretty good, but their partners and other dependent family members who join them might lack some English skills. I certainly don’t see the problem. Safety is paramount, and safety messages save lives.”

Preet Singh ran for the 2024 Wyndham council elections and womn the Bemin seat.

However, Wyndham councillor Preet Singh said safety messaging in one language could offend other cultural groups in the area.

“It seems to be targeting a particular section of the population – the majority of the people who come here from overseas, they have already passed the English requirement test, and they know basic English,” the Liberal Party member said.

“There are 180-odd languages spoken in Wyndham, so you can’t really put signs in every language.

“VicRoads and TAC could do more to increase safety measures and educate people on driving safely. It is a combined effort of authorities and the community.”

Former City of Casey council candidate Jamel Kaur Singh — who also has a PhD in business management and cultural intelligence — said she agreed with Tom Elliott’s comments on streamlining the safety message to one language: English.

“We spend $65m on interpreter services in Australia each year. We’re not telling people to speak their own language, and that’s encouraged, but I don’t think that we should be putting our national and state road signs in Punjabi or any other language,” she said.

“Giving people information about their electoral role and important government information is crucial, but there has to be a time frame for that because the amount of money spent on interpreter services is ridiculous.”

Jamel Kaur Singh ran for the 2024 Casey council elections. Picture: Supplied

Ms Singh said the money should be spent on encouraging people to learn English instead of creating “ghetto mentalities”.

“When you start getting off the freeway, and you drive into Tarneit, all the shop signs are in Punjabi, even the car number plates... and that is creating a ghetto mentality,” she said.

“By doing that, you’re alienating other people … You’re driving all the white people out.

“We cannot pander to the whims of the minority communities and create ghetto mentalities, which is what the signs in Tarneit are doing.

“We need to make sure that cultural intelligence is in all aspects of our society to create unity within Australia’s unique diversity.”

Transport Accident Commission (TAC) head of community Jacqui Sampson said evidence showed investment in advertising and education was “critical to saving lives on Victorian roads”.

“To reach as many Victorians as possible, we communicate road safety messages in a number of different languages – because safety must always come first,” she said.

3AW was contacted for comment.