Western Australia's Liberal leader says Tony Abbott shouldn't have said that a candidate had "sex appeal".
But Colin Barnett has conceded that political parties do look for "young, fit, healthy-looking candidates".
Mr Barnett made the comments after his federal counterpart, campaigning in the key marginal Sydney seat of Lindsay on Tuesday, was asked to compare Liberal candidate Fiona Scott to her predecessor Jackie Kelly.
"They're young, they're feisty and, I think I can probably say, have a bit of sex appeal," Mr Abbott said.
Critics say the comment highlighted Mr Abbott's views on women.
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Mr Abbott on Wednesday dismissed the gaffe as a "daggy dad moment".
Mr Barnett said in a politically correct world, a politician could not describe a candidate as having sex appeal.
"Tony Abbott's comment (was) just off the cuff, it wasn't taken to be offensive," he told Fairfax radio on Wednesday.
"Given that people are a bit sensitive these days, he would have been better not to have said that, but really, it doesn't matter that much."
Asked if any of his candidates for the WA state election in March had been chosen on "sex appeal", Mr Barnett said his candidates were "a very fine looking bunch".
The premier was further baited into admitting that the "attractiveness of candidates" was an issue.
"Each party looks for young, fit, healthy-looking candidates," he said.
