Liberal MP Warren Entsch has rejected claims he organised for a wealthy donor to jump the queue for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, saying he has been "grievously" misrepresented.
Health Minister Mark Butler raised the claims during Question Time and Mr Entsch requested the chance to respond from the Speaker.
"(Mr Butler) is making accusations in relation to implying some kind of quid pro pro arrangement in relation to a fine gentleman who happened to have made a donation," Mr Entsch told federal parliament on Monday.
The Australian reported at the weekend that Mr Entsch allegedly organised for Russian-born property developer Alex Sekler to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination in the Torres Strait in July 2021 in order to avoid shortages in Cairns at the time.
The newspaper also reported Mr Sekler then donated $304,000 to the Liberal National Party, the majority of which was used to pay for the successful campaign to hold Mr Entsch's seat of Leichhardt in far north Queensland at the federal election.
A Queensland Health spokesperson said on Monday that it had referred the matter pertaining to the health service to the state's Crime and Corruption Commission.
Mr Butler told parliament there were concerns that Mr Entsch had arranged for the 65-year-old Mr Sekler to receive the Pfizer vaccine when the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advised at the time that Pfizer not be administered to people aged over 50.
"There are concerns he was taking a dose intended to protect the vulnerable members of that community and ... unnecessary travel exposed those communities to the risk of infection," Mr Butler said.
Mr Entsch said in reply that Mr Sekler was approached by a representative of Torres Health to see whether he would be interested in donating an MRI machine to Thursday Island Hospital.
"That is the reason why he approached me in wanting to know about protocols in travelling up to the Torres Strait as he was invited up there to consider making a donation like the $700,000 he done at Cairns," Mr Entsch said.
Mr Entsch said Mr Sekler was also interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, possibly of the Moderna variety, so he inquired about that as well.
"(The hospital) said, 'If you present, we've got plenty of it and we have got quite of it that's going out of date'," Mr Entsch said.
