There has been controversy in question time in the New South Wales Parliament, with Premier Barry O'Farrell accused of giving the Opposition Leader the finger and a Labor MP thrown out for taking photos in the chamber.

The snap-happy Member for Bankstown, Tanya Mihailuk, was one of several politicians thrown out of a rowdy question time by acting speaker Thomas George.

"Well, I'll ask her to leave the chamber and destroy the photo too. Please, I'll ask the whip to make sure she destroys that photo," he said.

There were insults like this one from Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner:

"Why don't you grow some, pal?"

But it was a gesture from Mr O'Farrell that raised the most eyebrows, when he stuck his middle finger up at John Robertson, who had accused him of being one of Tony Abbott's lapdogs.

Mr Robertson says it is the height of arrogance.

"What you see is a Premier who doesn't behave the way you'd expect a premier of NSW to behave," he said.

The Premier's office says Mr O'Farrell was using his fingers to indicate the Opposition Leader had breached standing orders by asking two questions in one.