More female MPs needed, says Turnbull

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged the Liberal Party to lift its game in attracting women into parliament.

Gender diversity is the key to winning elections and governing well, Mr Turnbull says.

He told a meeting of the NSW Liberal Party state council in Sydney that lifting female representation in the party needed to be led by state divisions.

"If our goal is to have a modern, representative, thriving political party, then we must embrace the opportunity for reform that is before us," he said.

The sentiment was echoed by NSW Premier Mike Baird, who made a call of arms to women at the Saturday meeting, saying "this is your time".

Mr Baird acknowledged the party was "behind" when it came to female representation.

"If we are true to our words and say that women are key to our future, they're key to future governments, well then women must have key seats," he said.

Of the current crop of federal Liberal MPs, only five are women. By contrast, 45 per cent of Labor's representatives are women.