Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has referred two-year-old corruption allegations against federal MP Clive Palmer to the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC).

Mr Seeney took the step within an hour of speaking to the ABC to defend his decision not to alert police about what he thought were corrupt advances from Mr Palmer.

The Palmer United Party leader is suing Campbell Newman, alleging the Premier defamed him by accusing him of trying to buy governments.

Mr Seeney said just after the LNP won office in 2012, Mr Palmer approached him wanting special treatment to advance his mining interests.

"Clive Palmer wanted specialist treatment on the basis that he had been a supporter of our government, he wanted to bypass the proper processes and we weren't prepared to do that," Mr Seeney told the 7.30 Queensland program.

Mr Seeney was asked if, during a meeting with Mr Palmer, he was handed a draft bill that Mr Palmer had allegedly prepared about the Galilee Basin.

"Well I didn't read it of course because I rejected his approach immediately, but he explained to me that this was a draft bill that would give him the exclusive right to build a port and a railway and have control of the Galilee Basin," he replied.

"He believed he should have that in exchange for the support that he'd given in the past in getting elected.

"I rejected that completely and so I didn't even read it, I pushed it back across the table and told him that that wasn't the way we would be doing business, we would do business through the proper processes.

Mr Palmer has previously said such corruption claims are a complete fabrication. ( AAP, file photo )

"And from that point on he has gone on to start his own party because he couldn't get us to do what he wanted to do so he's gone on and started his own party."

Mr Seeney said he alerted Mr Newman, but not the police or the CMC.

"Yes [I] certainly told the Premier a number of times because after that the relationship started to deteriorate and when people are trying to understand why Clive Palmer was so antagonistic towards our government I explained that this was the reason why."

He said on reflection he would have done things differently.

"I think I should have reported it at that stage but at the time it was a case of just rejecting that sort of approach and saying this is the way we are going to do it," Mr Seeney said.

"The way things have developed since then I regret that I didn't report it."

After the interview Mr Seeney referred the matter to the CMC.

Mr Palmer has previously said such claims are a complete fabrication, and if his accusers have any concerns they should go to the police or the CMC.