The newly re-elected MP for Bennelong, John Alexander, says he did not intend to offend anyone with his joke about disabled parking permits during his victory speech.
Speaking about an injury he had sustained during his tennis career, Mr Alexander on Saturday night quipped he wouldn't be desperate enough to apply for a parking permit - a comment that was widely disparaged.
"You can be mischievous with your interpretation, but my point was that no-one who doesn't really need it should not have it,' he said on Sunday.
Labor demanded he apologise, but Mr Alexander said he did not intend to disparage anyone.
He said if anyone was offended, then he apologised, but said "no-one has done more for people with disabilities than I have".
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended, the MP who returned the government's majority with the win in the by-election forced by him being a dual citizen.
"John has already said that those people who were offended, he apologises, John is a great Australian with a big heart."
Mr Alexander was forced to apologise during the campaign after an old video of him making sexist and racist jokes emerged.
