The Nationals MP who quit over an overseas dating scandal has hit back at former leader John Anderson's call for voters to punish badly behaving MPs, saying failure is also an important part of leadership.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age from the United States, where he is on a road-trip with his family, Andrew Broad said his own fall from grace had taught him not to be self-righteous.

Andrew Broad says failure and forgiveness are key to the makings of a good leader. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Broad, who is married, stepped down as the member for the regional Victorian seat of Mallee at the federal election after it was revealed he had travelled to Hong Kong to have dinner with someone he met via a website that connects older "sugar daddies" with younger women.

The scandal was doubly embarrassing because just nine months prior, Mr Broad had criticised the extra-marital affair that cost the then Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, his position as deputy prime minister.