A Liberal National Party MP has been caught muttering "this f***ing..." under his breath, after a reporter asked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the number of female politicians in the party's ranks.
Member for Petrie Luke Howarth was accompanying Mr Turnbull at a press conference in Brisbane when Mr Turnbull was asked by Sky News reporter Jackson Williams about the number of male MPs he was visiting and whether the party needed more women.
"Yesterday you met with the male MP Trevor Evans, now you're with a federal male MP, a male state MP, then later today you're going to another male MP, then later tonight you're meeting with another two male MPs," Mr Williams said.
"Would you like to see some more female MPs in LNP ranks in Queensland?"
Towards the end of the question, Mr Howarth can be heard sighing and saying "this f***ing..." before appearing to stop himself from finishing the sentence and letting the Prime Minister take the question.
"We always look forward to having, to seeing more women represented in our parliaments," Mr Turnbull said.
"We have great Queensland colleagues, Jane Prentice you know … I was texting with her yesterday, she's interstate doing great work as the Assistant Minister for Disabilities."
Mr Turnbull then thanked reporters and appeared to try and end the press conference, but Mr Howarth interjected to defend the LNP's record.
"She's [Jane Prentice] an assistant minister, as is Karen Andrews," Mr Howarth said.
"We've got Deb Frecklington.
"Tracey Davis who was a minister in the Newman government.
"There's a lot of good women in the LNP and we're always welcome for more.
"Ladies, if you want to join up," Mr Howarth joked, gesturing to some women in attendance at the media event.
Of the 41 Liberal National Party MPs in Queensland Parliament, only eight are women, about 20 per cent.
That is compared to 42 Labor MPs, 17 of whom are women, or 41 per cent.
In Federal Parliament the LNP has 12 women in the House of Representatives and six in the Senate.
Prime Minister Turnbull added he would like to see more women in the LNP.
"Women hold up half the sky and we'd like them to hold up a larger part of the parliamentary seats as well," he said.
Mr Howarth has been contacted for comment.
