Liberal MP Peter Phelps has launched a strange Twitter rant about the Ebola virus, declaring Queensland ‘Queensbola’ after a woman suspected of having the virus was quarantined in Brisbane.

The NSW Legislative Council Whip’s comments were labelled “dumb” and “insulting” after the series of bizarre Tweets.

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Mr Phelps defended the tweets, telling News Corp he was “parodying the general hysteria” over the deadly virus.

“Ebola is not a serious risk to the west. Hysteria is a serious risk to civilised society. It makes people do stupid and irrational things,” he said.

At the time of publishing, Mr Phelps had not removed the tweets from his Twitter page.

QUEENSLAND EBOLA!!!

— Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

Queensland: Beautiful one day; Pandemic the next…

— Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

NSW might have the State of Origin Shield – but Queensland has #Ebola — Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

EBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLAEBOLA!!!! — Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

Queensbola — Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

Brisbola — Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

Townsbola — Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

I’ll just leave this here… #queenslander pic.twitter.com/C8qpJYRJJi — Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

The politician later took to Twitter to say he wasn’t serious about the controversial comments.

LOLZ – a reporter just called, thought I was being serious about Ebola panic. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t a NSW Gallery journo.

— Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

I am shocked – SHOCKED – that people think that I would be insensitive. And on Twitter of all mediums! Oh, the humanity!

— Peter Phelps MLC (@PeterPhelpsMLC) October 26, 2014

Twitter users slammed the tweets as ’embarrassing’, saying Mr Phelps needed to “grow up” while others said he should volunteer in Ebola-affected countries.

Embarrassing for NSW that this man is an elected state parliamentarian. Grow up, Peter Phelps. pic.twitter.com/CcPSN4oPc1 — David Jenkins (@DavJenks) October 26, 2014

Maybe Peter Phelps should take his next taxpayer funded overseas trip as a volunteer in Liberia. https://t.co/lkOPmZ0J4P #peterphelps — Gonzo (@FrankPangallo) October 26, 2014

Another example of politicians having no clue. No surprise its that champion of idiocy @PeterPhelpsMLC again. http://t.co/NxugzcdcMT

— Christopher Hoare (@Chris_Hoare) October 26, 2014

Wondering if @PeterPhelpsMLC is a parody acct. I can’t image a member of NSWGovt spewing such rubbish. #Ebola #auspol pic.twitter.com/GsWTvhozi0

— David Riddel (@davidriddel) October 26, 2014