Greens leader Richard DiNatale has slammed as "highly inappropriate" a move to inquire into foreign political donations and influence-buying within Australia's governing parties via the secretive Parliamentary Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security.

The Greens believe the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is the appropriate mechanism rather than the often closed and exclusively Labor-Coalition constituted Intelligence and Security committee.

Senator Richard DiNatale is seeking access to intelligence committee hearings. Credit:Graham Tidy.

The minor party has also ratcheted up the pressure on the government over former trade minister Andrew Robb who took an $880,000 job with a Chinese firm immediately upon leaving Parliament.

Mr Robb, the key architect of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement signed a "confidential" consultancy deal the day before the last election to work for the billionaire businessman Ye Cheng, who is regarded as well-connected with the Chinese Communist Party.