Minister denies vomit gesture, says he was moving a breath-freshening strip

Tasmanian government minister Gavin Pearce says he was removing a breath-freshening strip from the roof of his mouth when he put his fingers into his mouth while behind a female MP.

Kristie Johnston was speaking about integrity in parliament at the time, and says Mr Pearce's behaviour was "unparliamentary".

Mr Pearce has apologised, saying he "wouldn't want to think you would assume that I would do such a thing as what was alleged".

A government minister has told parliament he was removing a Listerine strip from the roof of his mouth when he made what appeared to be vomiting gestures behind a female MP as she was talking about integrity.

But an hour earlier Minister Gavin Pearce told Independent MP Kristie Johnston the gesture was due to him "swallowing a lozenge".

The Tasmanian parliament is currently debating a censure motion on Premier Jeremy Rockliff following mounting concerns about how the government has handled issues of accountability, transparency and integrity.

Ms Johnston was in the middle of speaking about the need for all politicians to uphold high standards of integrity, when Mr Pearce, who was sitting behind her, appeared to make a hand gesture to induce vomiting.

Kristie Johnston was speaking about integrity. (Parliament of Tasmania)

Gavin Pearce says he was moving a breath-freshening strip from the roof of his mouth. (Parliament of Tasmania)

The sequence was captured on the parliament's live stream. (Parliament of Tasmania)

The moment was caught on the parliament's live video stream and Ms Johnston soon demanded an apology.

"Minister Pearce must apologise to me, to the house and most importantly to the Tasmanian people for his offensive and inappropriate behaviour.

"I call on Minister Pearce and the premier to demonstrate how they intend to make amends"

Ms Johnston said Mr Pearce contacted her, claiming he had in fact been "swallowing a lozenge".

Labor MP Ella Haddad then went on to bring up the issue in the debate, saying it was "questionable" and called for him to apologise.

"It looked very much from the footage on the parliamentary broadcast like Minister Pearce was making a hand gesture while Ms Johnston was [talking about integrity] that simulated vomiting," she said.

"A prospect that maybe integrity or the concept of integrity and ministerial accountability literally makes him sick.

Kristie Johnston says Mr Pearce's conduct was "unparliamentary". (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)

Mr Pearce responded immediately and said "it was not the case", before pulling out a packet of Listerine tabs.

"I have a throat infection at