Reporter blooper: "Tony Abbott still needs to be erected"

We always thought it would be a matter of time before flashes of Tony Abbott's red budgie smugglers started to worm into mankind's subconscious.

The proof is now in the pudding courtesy of an embarrassing slip-up from Seven News reporter Talitha Cummins.

Never has a live cross about a road upgrade been so interesting with the tongue-tied presenter suggesting that alternative prime minister Abbott needs to be "erected first" before awkwardly correcting it to "elected".

"It's probably still a little too early to start getting excited," she says leading up to the gaffe — we very much tend to agree.

At least wait for the late news.

Cummins took the blunder like a champ taking to Twitter to laugh it off, even getting a follow from Abbott for her troubles.

Channel Nine presenter Sarah Harris also tweeted, "Just had a chat to my mate (Talitha Cummins) — she's a good sport. I'd erect her any day."