NSW Lib Party 'failed' on women MPs: Baird

Premier Mike Baird says it's "utterly unacceptable" the NSW Liberal Party has failed to boost the number of female MPs.

No women were placed in winnable seats during the March election in a move that can't happen again, he said.

"That is just totally and utterly unacceptable, I made that clear when I spoke to the state council," he told ABC Radio.

"We failed. That is the honest appraisal."

His comments follow increasing pressure on the federal Liberal Party to set formal targets for women in parliament as Labor aims for 50 per cent representation within 10 years.

Mr Baird said he supports targets, but not quotas, to increase female parliamentarians.

"Talent has to be the number one determinant," he said.

"(We) have to encourage them through a difficult process in terms of preselections."

The premier has charged NSW's first female treasurer, Gladys Berejiklian, with bringing more women into parliament.

"She is working through with members and the broader community on how we can facilitate more women coming into politics," he said.

Mr Baird appointed Ms Berejiklian treasurer and NSW's first female attorney-general, Gabrielle Upton, in a cabinet reshuffle following the March election.