Controversial government backbencher George Christensen has denied he's tried to buy votes with a $12,000 donation to a local turtle sanctuary.
"It's not bribery, it's just simply not," the Queensland Liberal Nationals MP told AAP on Monday.
Mr Christensen has been referred to the elections watchdog over a Facebook post in which he pledges a "personal contribution" to the sanctuary near Airlie Beach if he's re-elected.
Activist group GetUp has written to the Australian Electoral Commission, saying the post raises serious concerns about whether Mr Christensen was seeking to use cash handouts for votes.
GetUp national director Paul Oosting said a probe would help clear whether it was simply "a ham-fisted and dumb attempt to gain votes" or something more.
Mr Christensen accused GetUp of politicking but said he'd revoke the offer to Eco Barge Clean Seas to clear up any confusion about electoral laws.
"It was not an inducement to receive a vote. It was just a simple matter of fact that if I have an income I'm happy to give some of it up to this group," he said.
The Dawson MP said he had a long history of using his electoral allowance to donate to such causes.
In the past he had pledged thousands of dollars to homeless groups, fishing clubs and playgrounds.
"I don't have to make a pledge like this to win my seat back - for goodness sake I'm on 57.5 per cent (margin)."
The AEC said in a statement it had received a letter from GetUp and would "review the correspondence".
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