Conservative Nationals MP George Christensen has accused an academic he's labelled a "pedophilia advocate" of being linked to the controversial Safe Schools program.
The backbencher, a staunch opponent of the controversial anti-bullying schools program, is among a group of coalition MPs who have written to the prime minister calling on him to suspend its federal funding.
He used parliamentary privilege on Wednesday to name Gary Dowsett, the deputy director of La Trobe University's Sex, Health and Society section, of being behind the anti-bullying program.
"I think it would shock many parents to know that a pedophilia advocate is overseeing the organisation that came up with the Safe Schools program," he told parliament.
When contacted by AAP Prof Dowsett said: "I really don't want to comment about him."
Mr Christensen referred to an article written by Prof Dowsett from the journal Gay Information to accuse him of being "a long-time advocate of intergenerational sex, otherwise known as pedophilia".
"He says 'how different then is the gentle, tentative sexuality between parent and child from the love of a pedophile and his or her lover. That kind of love, warmth and nurture is an important part of the pedophilic relationship'," the backbencher said.
It is understood the article, entitled 'Boiled lollies and bandaids: gay men and kids', was written 35 years ago.
La Trobe University said it stood by the work of Professor Dowsett and his team.
"We are appalled that a respected academic has been attacked using parliamentary privilege," a spokesman for told AAP in a statement.
"This is a blatant attempt to distract attention from the independent endorsement of the highly effective Safe Schools program."
Mr Christensen wants funding for the schools program axed or suspended until a "full blown" parliamentary inquiry is held.
He's unhappy about the process of an independent review in the hands of Education Minister Simon Birmingham, and believes "gravely-concerned" parents and teachers should be allowed to air their concerns to a broader inquiry.
The Nationals MP says he's got the backing of a majority of his backbench colleagues, in the letter sent to Malcolm Turnbull.
MPs were briefed on the findings of the review on Tuesday night, but left the confidential meeting unimpressed.
Senator Birmingham said he would carefully consider what the reviewers found in terms of the appropriateness of the program's resources.
Labor leader Bill Shorten accused the MPs of being a "tin-foil hat brigade" and called on Mr Turnbull to show leadership and back the education minister over the "lunar right" of his government.
Greens senator Robert Simms also urged the prime minister to stand up to those backbenchers.
