Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee has apologised for giving a journalist the middle finger after a testy press conference on Wednesday.
The ABC caught Ms Lee on camera making the gesture at RiotACT journalist Ian Bushnell as she walked away from the press conference.
"I apologise for my poor behaviour," Ms Lee said on ABC radio on Wednesday, adding she had no "ill feeling" towards the long-serving Canberra journalist.
Ms Lee said she hoped Canberrans realised that all politicians are humans and that they would not judge her on a couple of seconds.
"I think that I have stepped up and made tough calls, faced media. I expect tough questions and I have done more than my fair share of stand ups when there's been incredibly uncomfortable topics for me," Ms Lee said.
"Including today, I have fronted up immediately to go on live radio with you, to apologise and to accept responsibility for my behaviour.
"And I hope [Canberrans] will judge me on what I've done over the last term."
Ms Lee had a terse interaction with Bushnell at a press conference on the sidelines of a leaders' debate hosted by the Property Council on Wednesday.
Bushnell has asked Ms Lee whether it was "a bit late in the day" to be attacking Chief Minister Andrew Barr over "opaque budgets".
Ms Lee said: "Isn't it late in the day for Andrew Barr to still not have submitted costings?
Bushell said: "No, let's talk about your policy."
Ms Lee: "No, you can't throw things at the opposition and expect to have no comeback when the fact is that this is a Treasurer who's been in charge of the ACT."
Bushnell: "Well, you've had a crack at Andrew Barr. I'm waiting for you to answer the question."
Ms Lee: "I'm saying. Are you finished?"
Bushnell: "I just want you to answer the question."
Ms Lee: "Are you finished?"
Bushnell: "I just want you to answer the question."
Ms Lee: "Are you finished or not? I will answer the question in my own way, Ian. You don't get to dictate how I answer the question."
Bushnell: "OK."
Ms Lee then went on with her answer. After the press conference finished, Ms Lee was caught on camera making the gesture at Bushnell.
The Canberra Times contacted Bushnell for comment.
It is not the first time Ms Lee and Bushnell have clashed at a press conference during the ACT election campaign.
Last month when Ms Lee refused to answer Bushnell's questions about Liberal candidate Darren Roberts and dumped candidate Elizabeth Kikkert because Bushnell had missed the start of the press conference when Ms Lee addressed the issues.
Ms Lee on Wednesday told ABC radio that she and Bushnell "had history".
"There's no doubt that it's a very, very tense relationship. And, you know, I have no ill feeling toward him. I understand that despite the fact that I utterly disagree with his approach, that he probably believes that he's doing his job. And I respect that," she said.
Ms Lee accused Bushnell of "putting words into my mouth" after an appearance at the National Press Club in November 2023.
Bushnell asked: "It appears to me you faced the same conundrum that Alistair Coe faced at the last election in that you're offering tax reform relief, cheaper land, cuts to taxes and charges for businesses. At the same time, you'll argue that we have a budget crisis. How do you expect to pay for all of that? And I don't expect you're going to say 'we just won't build the tram'."
Ms Lee said: "Thanks for putting words into my mouth Ian. So the first thing to say is that you read a lot into my speech and the media release because you've already made decisions on my behalf."
Ms Lee on Wednesday said she had a very good relationship with local media.
"But I think there is certainly some occasions where we put a view and, obviously Labor gets to put a view, and the story is written from a default position where they're right until - you know, there's frustration. I'm sure that Andrew Barr would say the same thing about their side," she said.
"I have no doubts that the journalists who are covering ACT politics are doing an incredible amount of work to make sure that their coverage is fair coverage, and I respect the work that they do, including asking tough questions."
with Lucy Bladen
