Federal MP Clive Palmer says he won’t appear before a parliamentary committee over his election spending if it’s a political witch hunt.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says Mr Palmer has proved you can buy a seat in parliament and that a new parliamentary committee on electoral matters will want to question him on how much personal wealth he spent on the election campaign.

But Mr Palmer says he spent far less than the Liberal and Labor parties, and where the money comes from is irrelevant.

‘‘You can spend a lot of money but if your ideas are not ones the public wants, you won’t get any votes,’’ he said.

Clive Palmer is heading for Canberra.

‘‘If we spent much less than both of the major parties, why are they looking at our party? This is not about money, it’s a political witch hunt.’’

Asked if he would appear before the committee, Mr Palmer said: ‘‘I may or may not.’’