The Nationals candidate for Leichardt, Ian Crossland, is embrioled in controversy after questioning how suitable the seat is for a female.
His comments relate to rival Liberal candidate Ms Charlie McKillop, who is running for the rural seat which includes farming and mining constituencies stretching from Cairns to Cape York.
Crossland said his view was shaped after his party chose a capable woman for the similar state seat of Cook, and she had lost.
He said:
"I'm not sexist, I'm at a breast cancer launch now.
"I've always supported the cancer fund and women's issues etc etc.
"But going on previous history . . . (the seat) is not won in Cairns, it's won on the Cape and Cairns.
"The Cape area is a very rough diamond type of situation.
"It's a lot of hard work. I mean the seat is six months Canberra, two months up the Cape, three months in Cairns."
Liberal MP Mel Brough came gallantly to McKillop’s defence:
"She used to actually work on a prawn trawler," he said.
"She'd take most blokes and sit them on their backsides.
"I'd be a bit wary if I was the Nationals candidate."