A Queensland MP says he was having "an inside joke" when he simulated masturbating in state parliament, but forgot about the cameras recording his every move.
Footage of Wednesday's sitting shows opposition frontbencher John-Paul Langbroek performing what was later labelled as "unparliamentary and inappropriate hand gestures" while his deputy leader Deb Frecklington was speaking.
The incident occurred immediately after Speaker Peter Wellington reprimanded Chatsworth MP Steve Minnikin for provoking government MPs with "hand movements".
Labor's Education Minister, Kate Jones, said she would write to Mr Wellington over the incident.
"My concern is that the Member for Surfers Paradise (Mr Langbroek) immediately disregarded your ruling and, as such, I believe it is a reflection on the chair," Ms Jones told parliament.
Mr Langbroek refused to comment to media about the issue, but later agreed to discuss it with his sister Kate Langbroek on her nationally syndicated afternoon radio program.
"I can't believe how these things happen to me," he said.
"I forgot about the camera. I was just having a laugh ... when he said hand gestures I thought I'd have a little inside joke."
Ms Langbroek recalled the MP had once been scolded by their mother for making a "masturbatory gesture".
"What do you say in your defence?" she said.
Mr Langbroek replied: "I have nothing".
"How deeply ironic John-Paul that you would make that gesture, as a joke," Ms Langbroek quipped, before inferring that he claimed to have never performed the act in question.
"Let's not go into that, I don't need my whole reputation trashed," the MP replied.
"I don't want every bloke in the world saying `He's a liar'."
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls told reporters almost six hours after Ms Jones raised the matter in parliament that he hadn't seen the footage.
"I've heard about it, I haven't seen it," Mr Nicholls said.
"I simply say this: It is important that both MPs, on both sides of the House, adopt the appropriate standards as determined by the Speaker and the rules of the House."
Mr Nicholls said he would remind Mr Langbroek of appropriate parliamentary standards.
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