A Family First candidate accused of linking the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre to the “dangers” posed to Australian children by the “gay marriage agenda” has apologised for any offence caused.

Peter Madden is running for the Senate in Tasmania, with his opposition to marriage equality a cornerstone of his campaign.

On Twitter on Monday afternoon he condemned the “abhorrent” massacre at Pulse – but added that it did not change “the real & present dangers of the gay marriage agenda to [Australian] children”.

Though Orlando is abhorrent, it doesn't change the real & present dangers of the gay marriage agenda to Aus children. — Peter Madden (@petermadden2u) June 13, 2016

The tweet was met with widespread outrage and questions of “What dangers?”



Madden said his statement was in response to criticism of his campaign trailer, which reads “Homosexual marriage = gay sex-ed for children”.

The billboard already received some criticism before more than 50 people were killed in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida.

He said on Sky later on Monday that he had “copped a lot of flak” for his tweet, including “over a thousand death threats”, and offered a tentative apology.

Asked by host Laura Jayes about “what gay marriage has to do with the terrorist attack in Orlando”, he said “nothing at all”.

He said he realised “after talking to a few people” that campaigning with his anti-marriage equality trailer on the day after the attack on Orlando’s LGBT community was “perhaps ... insensitive”, and went home. His tweet was a response to that criticism, he said.

He said he sought to be “sensitive on this issue ... at a time when the world is grieving”.

“I apologise if I offended people with what I said. It seems that I set off a Twitterstorm that I had no idea I would set off. The reaction to it has been quite extraordinary.”

He said he “did not see the point” in deleting the tweet.

“I didn’t mean for it to be opportunistic in any way, shape or form. I was simply answering my critics here in Tasmania and I apologise that it has set off an offence in what seems to be in so many people.”

Dan Bourchier, Sky News’ political and Indigenous affairs reporter, was among those to condemn the statement on Monday, calling it “absolutely disgusting” and “completely offensive”.

The Fairfax columnist and feminist commentator Clementine Ford told Madden he was a “garbage person”.

Many told Madden “delete your account”. Buzzfeed Australia’s Lane Sainty offered a step-by-step video on how to do so.

Lane Sainty just gave Peter Madden a video tutorial literally on how to log off and delete your account. — Jobs and Gordy (@GordyPls) June 13, 2016

Madden appeared on 936 ABC Hobart on Tuesday morning to reiterate that he “absolutely” condemned the massacre at the Pulse nightclub. He would be attending a vigil in Hobart later this week for the victims, he said.

On his tweet, he said: “I had no idea that it would offend so many people.

“I don’t want to offend people, this is a sensitive time.”

Madden said the message advertised on his trailer – that marriage equality was “gay sex-ed for children” – was “based on a lot of research”. He told ABC Hobart he had written a paper on it, which he was distributing.

He expressed concern that the arguments of those against marriage equality could not be heard without being accused of hate speech, a point he revisited later on Twitter.

He said the “vitriol” and “hatred” he had received was proof that those against marriage equality would be “vilified” for their views.

Connecting gaymarriage & Orlando is detestable.My tweet was responding to a critic who linked the 2.Neither side should make that connection — Peter Madden (@petermadden2u) June 14, 2016

The vitriol & hatred poured out towards me proves one thing.The "yes"side can say what they like unchallenged.The "no" side will be vilified — Peter Madden (@petermadden2u) June 14, 2016

Respectful and ordered debate must become the order of the day before the plebiscite.Respectful freedom of speech must be allowed to prevail — Peter Madden (@petermadden2u) June 14, 2016

Madden ended with the pledge to continue to “fight for family business, family farms and every family to own their own home”.