A university student suing federal Labor MP Terri Butler for allegedly defaming him on national television has rejected her written apology, labelling it a "sham".

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) law student Calum Thwaites is taking action against Ms Butler after she said on ABC's Q&A program that he had used the word niggers in a 2013 Facebook post about an indigenous-only computer lab.

Mr Thwaites received a written apology at the weekend, but said it was not an apology at all.

In a six-page letter released Monday afternoon through his lawyer, Mr Thwaites said Ms Butler "did not offer any expression of regret, atonement or amends for [her] calculatedly defamatory remarks."

"I am sure that we will have an opportunity to meet at the trial of the defamation action, which I hope will be set down for trial early next year," the letter stated.

"P.S. Happy 39th birthday."

The student wants $150,000 in damages for defamation, alleging the Griffith MP implied he is a racist, bigot and perjurer.

Terri Butler's apology has been knocked back by Mr Thwaites. ( ABC News )

Mr Thwaites has always maintained he was not responsible for the Facebook post.

And, a case against him, brought under the controversial section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act by a QUT administration officer, was struck out in early November.

The Labor frontbencher described Mr Thwaites' law suit as "hypocritical", a comment Mr Thwaites also addressed in his letter today.

"Since your first defamation on Q&A, you have accused me in the national media of being "hypocritical", because [in your words] I have been 'at the forefront of a campaign against section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, in favour of free speech'", the letter read.

"That is, if anything, a bigger lie than the ones which you told on Q&A."

Mr Thwaites rejected an offer by Ms Butler to also apologise in person.

"I am sure that we will have an opportunity to meet at the trial of the defamation action, which I hope will be set down for trial early next year," he wrote.

The ABC has contacted Terri Butler's office for a response.

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