Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared federal politics "pretty clean", despite allegations of influence peddling within the two major parties.

Which means the government won't be banning private donations to political parties.

There are growing calls for political donation reform in the wake of claims against Labor and Liberal figures at NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings.

Federal minister Arthur Sinodinos has stood aside pending the outcome of the hearings, but denies any wrongdoing in relation to his role in a water company that funnelled donations to the NSW Liberals.

It has also emerged a fundraising body in Joe Hockey's electorate, known as the North Sydney Forum, offered meetings with the treasurer.

The ALP has invited executives, under its Federal Labor Business Forum program, to attend a boardroom lunch with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on Thursday at a cost of $3300 per person.

Mr Abbott said he would not consider a ban on private donations.

"All political parties have to raise money and typically you raise money by having events where senior members of the party go, and obviously, they meet people at these events," he said on Monday.

The alternative was taxpayer funding.

The prime minister earlier this year banned lobbyists from also holding office in a political party and party officials from being lobbyists.

A number of Liberal and Labor party office holders already have quit their posts in order to continue their lobbying work.

Also, federal MPs must publicly declare gifts on the parliamentary pecuniary interests register.

Mr Hockey on Monday sought legal advice on a Fairfax newspaper article relating to the North Sydney Forum, saying allegations were "both offensive and repugnant".

The Australian Greens want the treasurer to reveal details of who belongs to the North Sydney Forum and say the prime minister should follow suit and reveal who belongs to the Warringah Forum in his nearby electorate.

"Wealthy individuals and companies donate money to election campaigns through these shady organisations," Greens senator Lee Rhiannon said.

Mr Shorten said Labor had zero tolerance for corruption and all election funding should be transparent and he'd work with Mr Abbott on improving the transparency of political donations.

Business programs are a common feature of political party events.

The Liberal party's federal council meeting in June includes an $11,000 per person "business observers" program including a breakfast which Mr Abbott will address.

Meanwhile, Queensland premier Campbell Newman has rejected Labor criticism of a Liberal National Party Art Union lottery, with a BMW as first prize, which it hopes will raise $500,000.

He downplayed concerns that developers or companies could bypass disclosure laws for political donations by buying the tickets.

"I'd simply be concerned if people don't buy tickets," Mr Newman said.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was yet another unsavoury LNP tactic.

LNP president Bruce McIver said each ticket would have a name and number, and proper records would be kept.