Key Points
- Tasmanian Nepali community members are expressing concern over what they claim is an increasing number of attacks targeting both businesses and individuals.
- Some Nepali business owners say they are considering relocating from Tasmania to the mainland.
- Tasmania Police denies there has been an uptick in 'racially motivated' crime.
On 3 December, the Moonlight Supermarket in the Hobart suburb of Glenorchy was vandalised and two staff were allegedly assaulted.
Staff member Milan Paudel said he feared for his safety when five young males entered the store during the incident.
“[They] started throwing items from the refrigerator and I told them to leave,” Mr Paudel said.
As they attempted to intervene and diffuse the situation, Mr Paudel and store owner Toya Raj Bhattarai were allegedly assaulted.
“A group of 15 boys [then] approached, and one of them began throwing punches,” Mr Paudel alleged.
He recalls being on the phone with police as the incident occurred before officers arrived.
A spokesperson for the Department of Police, Fire & Emergency Management confirmed that one youth was arrested and will appear before the Youth Justice Court.
He has been charged with a range of offences including attempted burglary, stealing, trespass, common assault and failure to appear.
Australia's fastest-growing migrant community
The Nepali community is now the , which found that the number of Nepal-born people living in Australia increased by 124 per cent from 2016 to 2021.
States including Tasmania have become popular thanks to the state-sponsored visa programs for skilled migrants, and as a result, Nepali is the third most spoken language after English and Mandarin.
The number of people speaking Nepali in Tasmania, Hobart and Launceston has grown since 2011. Source: SBS
She said Nepali businesses were being targeted at an increased rate but attacks were "not limited" to them.
She describes an incident that occurred in late 2023 involving a youngster using public transport.
"He was sitting at the bus stop waiting for the bus, and some people started assaulting him along with hurling slurs.
"That boy is still in counselling."
Incidents of vandalism, and break-ins, have also taken place at the small mobile phone business run by Bijay Tamang in Claremont.
"I can’t even count how many times the break-ins have happened ... more than 10 times I think,” Mr Tamang said.
He recalled an incident in January.
“I was working at the front desk and my technicians were behind me, some children came inside and fired a water pistol at me ... these are the sorts of activities we face pretty much every day,” he said.
Due to safety concerns, Bijay Tamang says he is contemplating relocating to the mainland. Source: Supplied / Bijay Tamang
"Because of this, so many of my friends who own businesses want to return to the mainland [Australia] after they get permanent residency," he said.
"This happens not once or twice; it's almost every day. How much can we tolerate? I am planning to sell this store and move to Sydney or Melbourne."
Amid the community concerns, Tasmania Assistant Police Commissioner Adrian Bodnar told SBS Nepali that the department was "not aware of any increase in racially motivated 'hate crime' reported to police, however, we are committed to actively investigating any reports we receive".
According to Tasmania Police’s , total offences in the state increased 26 per cent on the previous financial year, from 25,898 to 32,522.
This included an 11 per cent rise in offences against the person and a 30 per cent rise in offences against property.
The report said the latest statistics followed a general trend of decreased crime.
“This recent volume is similar to that last observed in 2007-08, although Tasmania’s population has grown since then,” the report said.
Lord Mayor of Hobart Anna Reynolds said her municipality was aware of incidents involving Nepali community members.
"We have been working with representatives from the Nepali Society, Equal Opportunities Tasmania and the Migrant Resource Centre to help ensure the Nepali community knows how to report incidents of discrimination and harassment and access the relevant support," she said.
Mr Paudel said he was "very disappointed" with the police response to the incident at the Moonlight Supermarket.
"Even though I was talking to the police the whole time when the attack was unfolding, the police arrived at the scene 17 minutes after the incident, while the police station is just a minute's drive away," he said.
Milan Paudel asserts that the police response to an incident in which he alleges he was assaulted was delayed. Source: Supplied / Milan Paudel
Mr Tamang shared a similar sentiment.
"Every time I have reported an incident to the police, first, they don’t come on time, and even if they come, they say, ‘What can we do? They are under 18, and we can only take them to court,’ and the waiting time for a court hearing can take up to six months, and in the end, nothing happens," he said.
Due to the age of the offenders, the system had failed to hold young offenders to account, Ms Panta claimed.
She's calling on members of Tasmania's parliament to "make parents responsible" in cases involving juvenile offenders.
"They should be summoned to the police station. In all this, the first thing that should be done is the police should be serious about these matters."
Mr Paudel suggested that increased police patrols, banning offenders, and monitoring were essential to prevent shops from being targeted.
"Even a van stationed outside the shop that has been targeted many times can be a big help," he suggested.
Ms Reynolds said that while the city had been actively working to mitigate anti-social behaviour in retail precincts over the past 12 months, it was still open to collaboration and ready to assist neighbouring municipalities.
Nepali community members have also met with the ALP's Member for Elwick, Josh Willie, to raise these concerns.
"As a community leader, I think that this is an important message to get out loud and clear: The majority of people in the northern suburbs value our multicultural society," Mr Willie told SBS Nepali.
He described recent attacks as "absolutely abhorrent" and said he and the government "would always stand up against perpetrators of racism".
Eggs were thrown at the glass door of Moonlight Supermarket, where a message to report bullying and harassment is displayed. Source: Supplied / Milan Paudel
“We have meetings scheduled with Equal Opportunity where the victims will also participate; they possess the influence to advocate with the government. We are committed to doing everything within our capacity, and we refuse to remain silent,” she said.
In the interim, she emphasised the importance of reporting any incidents to the police.
