STATE Palmer United Party leader Alex Douglas says Clive Palmer was right to storm out of an ABC television interview because women don’t have the “same capacity” to handle themselves during a combative conversation.

The Gold Coast-based state MP said he supported Mr Palmer’s handling of the 7.30 Report July 10 interview, explaining the PUP leader walked out “to be polite” to the show’s host, respected journalist Sarah Ferguson.

“In Australia you are marked severely for being rude to any woman,” Dr Douglas said.

“You have to be able to give them (women) a better chance to represent themselves than you would for a man because a lady does not have the same capacity,” he said.

“It’s a very blokey world. Women do not have an equal chance.

“They have to be given greater capacity. You can’t bully them and you can’t swear at them.”

Asked later to elaborate on his comment that women did not have the “same capacity”, Dr Douglas said that a man “has a natural advantage” when it came to a hostile confrontation.

“A lady, if she wants to be abusive and shouting. particularly if the line of questioning is overtly hostile and aggressive, you are far better to say nothing at all because you can’t win the argument,” he said.

Mr Palmer abruptly ended the July 10 interview after questions by Ferguson about allegations he had misused funds from a Chinese business partner intended for the management of a port.

The self-proclaimed billionaire told Ferguson: “Don’t talk to me about allegations and bullshit.”

He was twice more pressed before he said: “I’m not answering any more for you so goodbye. We’ll see you later,” before walking out.

SHOUTING: Clive Palmer referred to President of the Senate

PALMER: Chinese cash for operating port was ‘there to be spent’

QUIZZED: Palmer walks out of interview with Sarah Ferguson on 7.30

The ABC interview followed media reports of a court order for Mr Palmer to present a cheque book after the alleged unauthorised expenditure of more than $12 million, including on his election campaign.

In an interview with The Courier-Mail, Dr Douglas insisted Mr Palmer left the interview to be polite.

“He did not want to be seen to insult her (Ferguson) and he did not want to be seen to be uncouth,” Dr Douglas said.

“It’s never acceptable to insult a woman. It’s never acceptable to be rude to a woman and it is not sexist to say that.”

Dr Douglas also accused members of his former LNP of shouting down female Labor MPs.

He said women were being put into a position of having to become “pseudo-men” to survive.

“I think the majority of girls don’t want to do that,” he said.

The ABC declined to comment on Dr Douglas’ remarks.

Dr Douglas quit the LNP after falling out with party leader Campbell Newman in 2012 and later joined PUP.