The Queensland Opposition has issued an apology for claiming there are too many women on state's parole board for it to be called diverse, with men outnumbered two to one.

Last month 36 permanent, professional, and community members were appointed to the board. Of those, 68 per cent are women and 32 per cent men, and of the professional members, all are female.

Loading

On Thursday night during budget estimates hearings, Opposition Corrective Services spokesman Tim Mander accused Labor of exceeding its party's quota system.

"How can you describe these appointments as diverse when there's such a major gender imbalance?"

"It is obviously not reflective — I'm talking about diversity."

The criticism drew ire from Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan, who said Mr Mander was making an "outrageous inference" the women did not have the credentials for the job.

When Mr Ryan went to list some of the women's work history, Mr Mander tried to shut him down.

Nevertheless Mr Ryan continued that the appointments —which included seven Indigenous Australians — were done by Parole Board president Michael Byrne QC, and were merit-based and inclusive.

"I can't believe that someone would make an aspersion like you have just done," Mr Ryan said.

"Talking about diversity, we've got seven Indigenous people on the Board ... from memory I think it's about seven who are from rural and regional parts of Queensland, we've also got two police officers, we've got public servants, we've got 24 community members and we've got three legal professionals.

Loading

"I think it's important for us to highlight this experience because the member is making an allegation that the four women who have been appointed as professional members of the Parole Board are for whatever reason not worthy."

On Friday morning, Mr Mander, who was formerly an NRL referee, released a statement apologising unreservedly for the line of questioning.

"It was never my intention to reflect poorly on the women on the parole board," he said.

"This week, politicians from both sides of the house have made ill-considered remarks in the heat of the estimates battle and as community leaders we should strive to do better."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk rejected Mr Mander's explanation that the comments were said in the heat of battle.

"A lot of time and effort goes in to preparing for estimates. He had a deliberate line of questioning. He obviously had sat down and written those questions. He knew exactly what he was asking," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"It wasn't on the [spur] of the moment, it wasn't off the cuff, he knew exactly what he was doing and what he was saying.

"He is completely out of touch and it is just a symptom of the LNP's attitude towards women in Queensland."

Of the 41 Liberal National Party MPs, only eight are women, about 20 per cent.

That is compared to 42 Labor MPs, 17 of which are women, or 41 per cent.