Colourful NSW MP the Reverend Fred Nile has sparked further debate by claiming the only "man" in the Lindt cafe siege was the man with the gun: Man Haron Monis.

Following on from his comments on Tuesday that no hostages at Martin Place should receive bravery awards and their actions had potentially risked the lives of their fellow hostages, Mr Nile went a step further on Channel Seven's Sunrise on Thursday morning, criticising the men who were taken hostage as only trying to "save their own skin" when they should have put the interests of the women first.

"Usually men try to protect the women and it seems that the men were saving their own skin and leaving the women there," Mr Nile, 80, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, said.