Premier Gladys Berejiklian is facing "a long healing process" within the Liberal Party after more than half its 35 lower house MPs voted against a bill to decriminalise abortion.

Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts, a senior member of the party's conservative wing, blasted the handling of the bill during a late-night debate over amendments, saying it had led to issues "being raised at the last moment".

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is facing anger from some of her MPs over the abortion decriminalisation bill. Credit:Joel Carrett

"I have to say this is what happens when you breach parliamentary process and procedures that have been in existence—and they are there for a reason—for hundreds of years," Mr Roberts said while speaking in support of an amendment to ban sex-selection abortion.

Liberals on Friday were playing down suggestions the debate, which exposed deep divisions in the party on the issue of abortion, had threatened Ms Berejiklian's leadership, but some MPs said she had "lost capital" among her colleagues.