NSW Government Pledges $1 Million Against Islamophobia

The New South Wales (NSW) Labor government has announced $1 million (US$650,000) in funding towards the Action Against Islamophobia initiative.

It comes amid the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) claiming that micro-aggressions against Muslims were being “brushed off.”

The funding will create a “Report Islamophobia” support phone line, plus additional case management and support services.

It will also cover awareness on how to report incidents, plus community education and training for police and front-line services.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government had received anecdotal reports of higher that rates of Islamophobia were “far higher than what is being reported.”

“We don’t want Australians suffering in silence or enduring racism without help or support,” he said in a statement.

“We are proud to be partnering with the Australian National Imams Council to support those dealing with the trauma that Islamophobia causes.

“This program will play a critical role in providing support to those who have been affected by this hatred while also spreading awareness of the importance of rejecting racism in all its forms.”

ANIC president Imam Shadi Alsuleiman said many Muslims felt anxious about conducting daily activities.

“Islamophobia manifests itself in the community in several different ways, and we’ve seen an increase in micro aggressions that are often brushed off as ignorance or rude behaviour,” he said.

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said the state was one of the world’s most successful stories when it came to multiculturalism.

“To safeguard our vibrant multiculturalism, we must ensure we’re putting the plans in place to stamp out hatred, like that faced by our Muslim community,” he said.

“Greater visibility and a broader understanding of this issue is extremely important—helping inform how we work towards eliminating this sort of bigotry.”

Islam Growing

Followers of the Islamic faith are growing, particularly in Australia’s southern states.

According to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 2021, Muslims comprised 4.3 percent of people in NSW, making them the largest religious grouping outside of Christianity.

Nationally, 3.2 percent of Australia’s population is Muslim.

The highest growth rate of Islam is in Tasmania, where numbers doubled from 2,498 in 2016’s Census to 4,947 in 2021, a growth mainly fuelled by migration from Pakistan or Bangladesh.