Palmer defends member for phoning MP

Clive Palmer says a member of his party who asked a Queensland government MP to defect wasn't authorised to do so.

The defence comes after Gold Coast MP Michael Hart recorded Palmer United Party representative Jim McNally asking him on April 9 if he would like to switch parties.

"So what would I have to offer you for you to come over and join the Palmer United?," the recording said.

But Mr Palmer said Mr McNally, who knew Mr Hart when they were in Queensland's old Liberal Party, had phoned the MP without making a financial offer.

"They were having a discussion and he said, 'What will it take to have you join the Palmer United Party?'," he told reporters in Brisbane.

"He was referring to, 'Would you want to be endorsed for the seat of Burleigh?'

"He wasn't offering anyone anything. He wasn't authorised to do that. He's not an official of our party.

"He's just a party member."

Police dismissed a complaint Mr Hart had made in late April about Mr Palmer's party offering him a financial reward to leave the ruling Liberal National Party.