Tony Abbott believes politics in Australia has reached a "new nastiness" after offensive posters depicting his face were plastered around his Sydney electorate.
Several caricatured heads with expletives written across the former prime minister's forehead were found along the busy Spit Road in Mosman and around Manly and surrounding suburbs.
Other posters had "Pell" written across them.
Mr Abbott said he had not experienced anything like it before.
"I think this is a new nastiness in Australian politics," he told reporters.
"I'm not for a second suggesting that any of the candidates in Warringah are somehow doing this but it is a fact that there are some pretty nasty people who want change here in Warringah."
NSW Police on Thursday said they were investigating the offensive slogans and graffiti, and asked people to come forward with information.
Mr Abbott's main rival, independent Zali Steggall, rejected any suggestion that she, her campaign or volunteers had anything to do with the posters.
