Hawzah News Agency (Canberra, Australia) - Fraser Anning from Queensland, sparked widespread backlash after the massacre at two mosques in Christchurch in which 51 were killed, for issuing a statement that said although "I am utterly opposed to any form of violence within our community, and I totally condemn the actions of the gunman… what it highlights is the growing fear… of the increasing Muslim presence. The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration program which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who won a surprise victory in the election over the weekend, condemned the comments, saying at the time they had "no place in Australia, let alone the Australian Parliament," according to The Hill.

The senator gained more attention when a video of a teenage protester smashing an egg on his head while he was giving an interview went viral. Anning punched the protestor before being restrained by security officials.

Even before the massacre, Anning had faced criticism over his views on immigration and was widely condemned last year when he called for a “final solution” to end the immigration problem in Australia.