Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she will talk to Agriculture Minister Mark Furner after he made a "misogynistic" remark about opposition MP Ros Bates during parliament yesterday.
Mr Furner is accused of saying "what a dopey, stupid woman you are" to Ms Bates during a debate in parliament yesterday over proposed amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation Bill.
The comment was not picked up by recording devices used in parliament, but Mr Furner has not denied the claim, and later apologised to the house.
"Earlier today I responded to an interjection from an opposition member. I withdraw my remarks and I apologise unreservedly," he said.
A spokesperson for Ms Palaszczuk said she "was disappointed in the words Mr Furner used and will be speaking to him about it".
Ms Bates – the shadow health minister – told parliament the remark was "offensive to all women in this parliament".
"The minister for agriculture made a deeply offensive, misogynistic and unparliamentary remark about me," she said.
"The premier must take action to set a standard that this behaviour will not be tolerated."
Opposition MP Deb Frecklington demanded the premier reprimand Mr Furner.
"It does not matter who that slur was against, it should not have happened in this house. It should not happen outside of the house. There is no place in this house for that type of vile language to be spoken to a female," she said.
"Ten years ago Julia Gillard stood in the federal parliament and spoke about misogynistic behaviour. Have a look at the misogynistic behaviour. It was the minister who sat in the federal Labor Party with Julia Gillard at the time. It is obvious he has not learned anything."
