The comments, made in a meeting this week by Roads Minister Duncan Gay, were widely interpreted as a patronising jab at young rising Liberal MP Eleni Petinos.

Ms Petinos was lobbying the Minister about construction of an F6 motorway extension in her southern Sydney electorate of Miranda, and was left furious by the comments, the Nine Network reported.

In a statement on Wednesday Mr Gay clarified his remarks and issued an apology "if any [offence] was taken".

Mr Gay told Parliament that he "made a number of comparisons" and that his actual remarks were: "Building a road is not like buying a handbag or a car.

"Certainly no offence was meant by my words and if any was taken, I apologise," he said. "I have spoken with the Member for Miranda and conveyed those thoughts."

Mr Gay said he believed he should have chosen his words more carefully.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said that his Minister's intent had been misconstrued.

But in Question Time the Premier hit back at the Labor party over criticism of Mr Gay.

"I find it incredible that those opposite would raise that issue in here," Mr Baird said.

He then made an apparent reference to NSW Labor's former general secretary, Jamie Clements, who was forced to resign early this year amid a sexual harassment complaint.

Mr Clements has always denied the allegations.

NSW Labor leader, Luke Foley, who was on holiday when the story broke, was criticised by some for not speaking out on the issue.

29-year old Ms Petinos is considered a rising star within the party after she won back the seat of Miranda from Labor at the 2015 election.

Mr Gay has a history of using colourful epithets against those with whom he disagrees. He has also claimed the "chattering classes" of Sydney present a greater pollution risk than trucks.

As for the road, the F6 motorway has been touted as a southern extension of the WestConnex motorway, linking the Sutherland Shire to St Peters. But no timetable has been placed on its construction.