Australian senator egged after racist comments on New Zealand mosque shootings

Queensland Senator Fraser Anning drew international condemnation for his efforts to blame the attacks that killed 49 Muslim worshippers in the southern New Zealand city on immigration into the country.

"Does anyone still dispute the link between Muslim immigration and violence?" Anning said.

Amid the controversy, an unnamed 17-year-old boy threw an egg at Anning during a press conference in Melbourne, prompting the senator to hit him in the face repeatedly before being stopped by what appeared to be a security guard.

A police statement said the boy was arrested but was released without charge pending further enquiries.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described Anning's comments as "appalling" and "ugly" with "no place in Australia", as he announced a bipartisan motion of censure would be launched.

"These comments are appalling and they're ugly and they have no place in Australia, in the Australian Parliament also. And he should be, frankly, ashamed of himself," Morrison said.

"I want to absolutely and completely denounce the statements made by Senator Anning," he added.

Anning was elected in 2017 by a fluke of Australia's proportional voting system, having received only 19 first preference votes.

He is unlikely to be reelected when Australians go to the polls in a vote expected this May.

Anning has previously called for "a final solution" to immigration in the country, and demanded a Muslim ban to be enforced.