MPs clash on 'ladylike' behaviour and relations cool

Labor leader Rebecca White defended her deputy Michelle O'Byrne's fiery exchange with Ms Hickey in Parliament over the word.

"I've been a member of parliament for 10 years and I've never heard anybody ordered to be more ladlylike," Ms White said.

"I think it's a pretty outdated term in 2019 and a strange choice of words for Sue Hickey to use."

Ms White said Ms Hickey had been "very ratty and embarrassed after being rolled by the Premier" on building a 50 bed mental health facility.

During Question Time, Ms Hickey called order and said: "Ms O'Byrne it's very unladylike to be yelling in the parliament."

Ms O'Byrne leapt to her feet, called a point of order and told Ms Hickey, also on her feet, that "one of us need to be sitting down".

"I suggest it be you," Ms Hickey said. "I do not like the temperament or the attitude. You are on warning number one."

Ms O'Byrne was furious and went further. "Point of order Madam Speaker, Can I draw your attention to the inappropriateness of a member mentioning someone's gender in any kind of warning in parliament?," Ms O'Byrne asked.

"First, my name is Michelle O'Byrne, or the member for Bass or the Deputy Leader of the Opposition."

Ms Hickey asked if Ms O'Byrne was referring the matter to her and Ms O'Byrne said " Yes, Madam Speaker. The word 'ladylike'."

An angry Ms Hickey did not hold back.

"Oh for goodness sake - this is political correctness taken to the nth degree," she said.

"Your behaviour was inappropriate whether it was ladylike or otherwise.

"I will not be spoken to like that again Ms O'Byrne."

Later Ms Hickey ejected Ms O'Byrne.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said Ms Hickey "has a job to do" to restore order. "Ms O'Byrne was acting in an unparliamentary manner and was kicked out of parliament, like Mr (David) O'Byrne was kicked out of parliament yesterday," Mr Barnett said.