By Melissa Meehan in Melbourne

Islamophobia is a “hidden cancer” eating away at Australia’s social cohesion and polarising society, according to the nation’s official expert. 

Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik says there has been a rise of anti-Muslim sentiment across the nation, describing recent vandalism in Sydney as a symptom of a deeper issue.

NSW Police have launched an inquiry into anti-Islam graffiti found in a western Sydney suburb over the weekend.

The words “F*** Islam” were spray painted onto an overpass and the words ‘cancel Islam’ were graffitied on a nearby advertising board.

The graffiti has since been painted over.

Mr Malik, appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in September, said the weekend’s incident was “appalling and simply unacceptable”.

“It crosses a line from free speech to hate speech,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

“That graffiti has no place in a multicultural, multi-faith Australia.”

Mr Malik spoke of his five-week tour of Australia and shared some harrowing stories from those he met with, including public humiliation and death threats.

“I think Islamophobia is one of those hidden cancers that eats away at social cohesion,” he said.

“It is well known among Muslim communities but it really hasn’t warranted or received a public outcry and coverage that many of us believe it should.”

In his first interview since his appointment, Mr Malik emphasised the need for government action, including countering stereotypes, holding perpetrators accountable and improving safety for Muslims.

He noted women were particularly vulnerable to Islamophobia, with a number of people he spoke to telling stories of women being asked if they were carrying a bomb under their clothing or others having their hijab’s ripped off their heads.

Mr Malik said he had spoken with his Jewish counterpart, Special Envoy to Combat anti-Semitism Jillian Segal, on many occasions about the challenges both groups faced.

Hate speech and intimidation is on the rise in Australia triggered by the war in Gaza.

Recent anti-Semitic crimes include the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue – being investigated as a likely terrorist attack – and anti-Israel graffiti sprayed on a building before a car was set on fire in Sydney.

Mr Malik has been appointed for a three-year term and will report directly to the prime minister and the minister for home affairs, immigration and multiculturalism, and cyber security.