IF YOU'RE going to sink the knife in about Ipswich's crime problems, it would help if the city you're from isn't plagued with its own law and order problems.

That's what a Gold Coast MP learnt in State Parliament this week when he joked about Ipswich residents in the seat of Bundamba and knife crime.

Southport MP Peter Lawlor left himself wide open for sharp comeback when he made the cutting barb on Thursday.

It came when Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller, while discussing a bill in parliament, remarked at the variety of weaponry knives available, including star-knives, flick-knives, push knives and trench knives.

She was about to mention how horrified Bundamba constituents would be to hear many bladed weapons were in circulation when Mr Lawlor interjected.

"They've got the whole cutlery set," he said.

But the Bundamba MP was not having it from her Labor colleague.

After defending her constituents as predominantly law-abiding citizens, she stuck her own knife in to Mr Lawlor.

"I should say to the law-abiding members of my community that perhaps they should not go to Southport for their holidays anymore, because they might learn a thing or two about knives from the member's constituents," she said.

While always keen to defend her electorate, Mrs Miller said it was a jovial, good-natured exchange.

She said with the plenty of attention the Gold Coast's high-profile crime problems of late, MPs from the beachside city were "temperamental" when it came to law and order.

"That's because the focus has been put on them. They're trying to share the pain," she said.

"Peter's a good friend of mine and it was all in good spirit."

But on a serious note, she said she was pleased about the measures contained in the Weapons Amendment Bill.

The bill increases the penalty for the possession of a knife in a public place or in a school from six months jail to one year jail.