Liberal Party candidate Georgina Downer says she was "absolutely not" presenting Commonwealth money when she was photographed last week with a giant novelty cheque at a South Australian bowls club.

Key points: Liberal candidate Georgina Downer presented a novelty cheque to a bowling club on Friday

Liberal candidate Georgina Downer presented a novelty cheque to a bowling club on Friday She says the club asked her to supply the cheque

She says the club asked her to supply the cheque Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie says it is "extremely disappointing"

The Labor Party has written to the auditor-general accusing Ms Downer of "inappropriate" conduct in presenting the cheque to the Yankalilla Bowling Club instead of the local MP for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie.

Ms Downer, the daughter of former foreign minister Alexander Downer, posted a photo to her Facebook page on Friday which showed her holding a novelty cheque — with her face and name — for $127,373 to fix the club's third bowling green.

This morning on ABC Radio Adelaide, Ms Downer said she was "not presenting Commonwealth money" because the cheque was "not legal tender".

She said the Fleurieu Peninsula club had asked her to come and present a "novelty cheque" because she had worked with the club to make sure its Community Sport Infrastructure grant application was successful.

"They didn't detail the specifics of the novelty cheque," Ms Downer said.

"… there was not one person in the bowling club on Friday who thought it was my money, who thought the cheque was real or who thought the grant did not come from the Commonwealth Government."

Ms Sharkie beat Ms Downer at the July 2018 by-election.

Ms Sharkie had stepped down after it was revealed she was a dual citizen.

Ms Downer was then preselected for the upcoming federal election, expected to be held in May.

Labor says the 'great big mug' is the problem

Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told ABC Radio Adelaide it was "outrageous that a failed Liberal candidate should turn up at a bowls club representing that $123,000 of Commonwealth grant money is a gift from the Liberal Party or a gift from her".

He said the problem was her "great big mug on the cheque" and the blue and white Liberal stripes on it.

Rebekha Sharkie with a letter from Sport Minister Bridget McKenzie announcing the successful grant applications. ( Facebook )

He also accused Minister for Sport Bridget McKenzie of letting Ms Downer know about the successful grant before Ms Sharkie.

Both Ms Downer and Ms Sharkie said they were told about the successful grant — along with other grants given to the Parndarna Sports Club and the Willunga Recreation Park — on Tuesday.

However, a spokesperson for Ms Sharkie said Ms Downer must have been told about it before then to have the cheque prepared so quickly and a party organised at the bowling club.

Ms Downer said the cheque was presented at the club's regular Friday dinner.

Ms Sharkie said implying that the money came from the Liberal Party was "misleading conduct" and "extremely disappointing".

Second Jim video appears

Ms Downer also came under fire yesterday for posting a Facebook video of a retiree called "Jim" who complained about Labor's franking credits policy.

It was later revealed that he was Jim Bonner, a long-time Liberal staffer and the former state director of the party.

Yesterday afternoon, Ms Downer posted a video of a second man called Jim, this time from Stirling, who complained about the same issue.

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"To tax retirees in this way is an insult and Australians who have worked really hard in their retirement and provide for their own retirement are going to be seriously affected," the second Jim said.

Ms Downer said he was not a former staffer, but a former farmer living with a disability.

Liberal Hindmarsh candidate Jake Hall-Evans also visited the Semaphore Bowling Club on Friday to celebrate that club's successful grant, however he did not present a novelty cheque.