Launceston store owner sends daughter to China to escape racism
After persistent racist harassment, the owner sees her daughter once a year and is considering selling.
Maria Zheng and her partner Peter Fan own Asian Town Launceston. For seven years, they have endured rocks thrown at their store, racist slurs, theft, and threats.
One youth threatened Zheng with a knife he had stolen from the shop. Some days they call police as many as seven times.
She confronted youths and told them she was heavily pregnant. They cursed her baby and cursed death to her baby.
Due to this stress, she decided to return to China for the remainder of her pregnancy. She returned to Australia before her due date and began working at the store again.
Now she sees her child only just once a year. The constant abuse has exhausted Zheng, and the couple are considering selling the business they built.
- Seven years
- Years of abuse
- As many as seven times on some days
- Police calls
- Invermay Road, Launceston
- Store location
- Once a year
- Child visits
Why it mattersThe story shows how racism drives business owners from communities and tears families apart. It raises questions about safety and police response in small towns.
AustraliaRacism and violence against Asian small business owners in Australian towns is forcing families to separate and threatening local enterprises. Police involvement has not stopped the harassment.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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