A BRISBANE butcher shop has been vandalised with fake blood, had its glass smashed in the shape of bullet holes and been spray painted with the words “meat is murder”.

Staff at Clancyjames’ butcher shop in Taringa made the discovery this morning, and a 26-year-old man was today charged with wilful damage.

Owner David Bobberman said the vandalism happened about 10.30pm last night and was reported to police by a customer who allegedly saw the activist in the act.

“When you come to work and there are two holes that look like bullet holes, you don’t take that idly,” he said.

“This is a free country — by all means say what you want, but go about it the right way.”

Mr Bobberman, who runs two retail stores, said people who were not previously customers had visited the store today to show their support.

The peak body for Australia’s red meat industry expressed its “disgust” over the attack on one of its members.

“We need immediate action to deliver tougher fines and jail terms to curb this unlawful activity,” Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said.

“These activists are criminals and they need to be treated like it.”

media_camera Clancyjames butcher shop in Brisbane was vandalised. Picture: AMIC media_camera .

AMIC called on new Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie and Minister for Small Business Michaelia Cash to swiftly push through proposed changes to legislation that would “make it easier to prosecute illegal activism”.

“We’re heartened to know that our new Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie is on board with much tougher penalties for agri-activists but it is critical that this is not limited only to on-farm activism,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“As we’ve seen today in Brisbane, there are other businesses feeling the brunt of this disgraceful behaviour.”