Tasmania Prime Meat cops racial abuse, destruction and bullets

It’s a cornerstone for Tasmania’s Muslim community, but one of the state’s only Halal vendors worry they may soon have to close up shop if daily, racially charged, attacks continue.

Being shot at, locked in refrigerators and racially taunted is sadly becoming commonplace at one Tasmanian meat vendor.

Tasmania Prime Meat has become a cornerstone for Hobart’s Muslim community as one of the state’s only authentic Halal butchers, but directors worry they may soon have to close up shop if daily, racially charged, attacks and vandalism continue.

Co-director MD Imadul Islam Rahat has trouble sleeping, not knowing what condition his Goodwood store will be in when he arrives in the morning.

Mr Rahat said his staff and customers are terrorised daily by young vandals who hurl racial abuse and destroy property.

Tasmania Prime Meat Owner, MD Imadul Islam Rahat outside his butchers shop in Goodwood. Picture: Linda Higginson

In one instance, the storefront was shot at with what is believed to be an airsoft gun while staff and customers were inside, leaving a bullet hole in the window.

In another instance, a worker was almost locked in the back of a refrigerated truck by an offender.

“One of my staff was trying to get some boxes out of the truck and somebody pushed the door and tried to lock him inside – inside, it’s like one to four degrees.”

“That guy will not feel safe at work now.”

Tasmania Prime Meat Owner, MD Imadul Islam Rahat in his butchers shop in Goodwood. Picture: Linda Higginson

The offenders even regularly put locks on the store, forcing staff to effectively break into their own workplace to begin the day’s trading.

Mr Rahat says the attacks have cost him “tens of thousands of dollars”, but there has also been a heavy emotional toll.

“It’s scaring a lot of our customers,” Mr Rahat said.

“We have all these customers coming in from different backgrounds and they are saying they don’t feel safe. They taunt us.”

“I can’t sleep properly thinking about what I will find at the shop the next day.”

The business now has to outsource delivery due to the damage to their truck – a costly exercise.

“With inflation, fuel prices going up, everything is so expensive,” he said.

“This is a major blow on our business.”

The vendor is widely trusted in Tasmania as a source of genuine Halal goods thanks to Mr Rahat’s hard work overseeing the farm to shopfront process.

Tasmania Prime Meat Owner, MD Imadul Islam Rahat has had his van vandalised to the point where it is unroadworthy. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmania Prime Meat Owner, MD Imadul Islam Rahat has had his van vandalised to the point where it is unroadworthy. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Once we started we had a really, really good response,” he said.

“We have lots of people locally, born and bred Australians, working at the business now.”

“They say ‘it’s an eye opener’, the way we use (all of the animals), and keep the price affordable.”

But the outlet’s future could be in jeopardy.

“It’s going in the wrong direction too much,” Mr Rahat said.

“If this keeps going on, there’s no way we can run this business for three more months.”

“Right now a lot of our staff members are afraid to work after hours – we want to go home safe.”

“We are peace loving people, I have a small daughter and a wife, and we don’t want any trouble.”

Mr Rahat said police had been informed but had not yet relieved the pressure.

“We understand the police are short-staffed, they don’t have the manpower to attend it all the time,” he said.

Tasmania Prime Meat Owner MD Imadul Islam Rahat outside his butchers shop, Tasmanian Prime Meat in Goodwood. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmania Prime Meat’s experience with the attacks by local youths has deeply saddened Glenorchy City Council Deputy Mayor Steven King.

The council is at a loss as to how to tackle the issue plaguing the butcher and surrounding stores.

“It’s really sad what’s happening around there at the moment to them and other businesses,” Mr King said.

“I know the community is very supportive to them which is a wonderful thing.

“It’s something the council can’t do anything about but we certainly support them in any way, shape or form that we can.”

“From a community perspective, it’s just totally unacceptable.”

Mr King has been in regular communication with Tasmania Prime Meat regarding the constant abuse by the young offenders, and while council may not be best positioned to solve the issue, he believed the solution could lie at home.

“We just wonder where these kid are getting it from,” he said.

“It’s got to come from the families, the police can only do so much too, it’s really a family problem and families have got to want to try and help and teach their kids better.

“We’re totally disappointed that attitude prevails.

“It’s a minority that cause this issue but sadly it has a much bigger effect.”

Follow @jackevansreport