Queensland Senator Fraser Anning has been slammed for his "disgusting" comments in the wake of the Christchurch mosque massacre.
In a media statement issued this afternoon, that has been widely condemned on social media, Senator Anning said the attacks highlighted the "growing fear over an increasing Muslim presence" in Australian and New Zealand communities.
He went on to claim the real cause of the bloodshed that has left at least 49 people dead is New Zealand's immigration policy.
"I am utterly opposed to any form of violence within our community, and I totally condemn the actions of the gunman," Senator Anning said.
"However, while this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it highlights is
the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand, of the increasing Muslim presence.
"As always, left-wing politicians and the media will rush to claim that the causes of today's shootings lie with gun laws or those who hold nationalist views but this is all clichéd nonsense.
"The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration programme which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place."
Senator Anning went on to say that while Muslims may have been victims of attacks, he claimed they were also perpetrators, and blamed deaths on "the entire religion of Islam".
"It is the religious equivalent of fascism," he said.
He ended with a passage from the Bible and said those who followed a violent religion that called on them to murder "cannot be too surprised when someone takes them at their word and responds in kind".
While evidence of him sharing that statement has been removed from his social media counts he tweeted:
A media adviser for Senator Anning told news.com.au there had been no backlash to the statement, but it only took minutes for social media to blow up in outrage.
Many chose not to share the statement.
"No, but we do see the link between certain senators and violence," wrote one man on Twitter.
"Please don't do this today. Show some dignity and compassion. You might find you like it."
Another wrote: "Fraser Anning is a bad person in his heart. Just a nasty, ugly waste of human life."
Queenslanders said they were "disgusted" the politician represented their state.
"You are just appalling," wrote another.
Others who supported his sentiment were also slammed.
Following the backlash, Senator Anning has continued to defend his comments.
In another tweet he doubled down saying today was not an "excuse" to forget lives lost to "Islamic terrorist attacks".