Two strident critics of a controversial anti-bullying schools program insist they told former prime minister Tony Abbott of their concerns.
Yet Mr Abbott is believed to be one of about three dozen government backbenchers who have called for a parliamentary inquiry into Safe Schools, which aims to address sexual and gender diversity issues.
They also want federal funding for the program suspended.
Nationals MP George Christensen is leading the call with a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The MPs claim an independent review of the program did not examine all the materials and the resources it recommends.
As well, the review consulted only five Victorian schools and not a single parents group.
The group wants an immediate suspension of federal funding, pending a parliamentary inquiry.
Mr Christensen and Liberal senator Cory Bernardi deny their opposition to the program is linked to their support for Mr Abbott.
The pair insist they aired their concerns while Mr Abbott was prime minister.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham has told the backbenchers to hold fire until they see the government's response to the review.
"I'm confident the government's response will be strong and will give people confidence in how the resources are used," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
Fellow cabinet minister Christopher Pyne, a former education minister, said he was "absolutely" opposed to a parliamentary inquiry.
Mr Christensen said the program was attempting to run "queer gender theory" and Marxist ideology into schools that should be limited to universities.
"I don't want to see sexual liberation of young people. I don't want to see young people sexualised at all," he told reporters.
"They're saying you shouldn't say boys and girls in the classroom, are we going on a purge of the dictionary here?"
Fellow Queenslander Warren Entsch said the concerns were being pushed by external lobby groups.
"It seems to me there needs to be more of an education program for some of these adults that are making these noises," he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten labelled the coalition MPs "knuckle draggers" who were trying to inflict their outdated views on schools.
"Why not let the schools, the teachers, the parents and kids work out their education rather than a group of ideologues ... trying to impose a 1950s view of the world," he told reporters.
Mr Turnbull accused the Labor leader of seeking to extract partisan advantage that was thoroughly unworthy.
"All members expressing views should choose their words carefully and remember the impact their statements can have on young people and their families," he told parliament.
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