The NSW premier is standing by a Liberal MP who found himself in an awkward position after ordering a massage in a New York hotel room.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward says he was targeted by blackmailers after trying to arrange a massage "as people on holidays will often do".
Mr Ward insists he requested "a normal massage" at his hotel room, although various media outlets report he asked for a "special massage" - a claim he denies.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday defended Mr Ward's character.
"Gareth is one of the hardest-working members in my parliamentary team and I am proud to call him my colleague," Ms Berejiklian said.
Mr Ward says when he opened his hotel room door he was confronted by two men who told him they were filming, were underage and wanted money.
"When it became clear that more was on offer, I asked them to leave and then they became aggressive demanding money," the 36-year-old said in a statement to AAP on Thursday.
"The ordeal was frightening."
The men reportedly demanded more than $US1000 ($A1,265).
According to the New York Post, Mr Ward headed to the hotel lobby - purportedly to get the money - and sought help from reception who called police. The men then fled.
The state government's parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra said he reported the matter to New York police and it was now under investigation.
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