A court has heard former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid is unrepentant for his crimes and has only shown remorse for getting caught.

Key points: Court hearing sentencing arguments after Eddie Obeid was found guilty of misconduct in public office

Court hearing sentencing arguments after Eddie Obeid was found guilty of misconduct in public office Defence argues his health conditions and "public work" should be taken into consideration

Defence argues his health conditions and "public work" should be taken into consideration Prosecution says prisons system is "well equipped" to care for him and that Obeid is unrepentant for his crimes

Prosecutors are pushing for the former minister to serve jail time, after he was found guilty of misconduct in a public office in June.

The conviction relates to him failing to disclose his family interests in cafe leases at Circular Quay, while lobbying a senior bureaucrat when he was a member of the Upper House.

Obeid's lawyers have submitted dozens of character references to his sentencing hearing, including from some of his grandchildren and a priest.

The sentencing has previously been delayed a number of times after Obeid had a stroke and was diagnosed with a "constellation" of medical conditions.

But the crown has argued that should not stop him from serving jail time.

"He's far from being on death's door," crown prosecutor Peter Neil SC argued.

He told the hearing the NSW prison system was well equipped to cope with Obeid's health issues.

Mr Neil said Obeid was unrepentant for his crimes.

"We are unable to accept there is any evidence of remorse," Mr Neil said.

"His only regret … appears to be that he was caught."

Obeid's 'public work' should be considered, defence argues

Obeid's lawyers argued prosecutors were inflating the seriousness of his crimes.

"The Crown says this offence is akin to bribery," defence barrister Braddon Hughes SC said.

"It is the defence submission that the offending of Mr Obeid falls well below that level of moral culpability."

He went on to argue that Justice Beech-Jones should take into account Obeid's public work when considering his sentence.

"Here you are dealing with a man who has 20 years of service in parliament and that should not be discounted " Mr Hughes said.

He said Obeid's character references spoke highly of his "honesty" and "integrity".

"He's entitled to get the benefit of all the good work he's done," Mr Hughes said.

"The destruction of his good name and the Obeid name weigh very heavily with him and that is a punishment he suffers and continues to suffer."

He said the possible cancellation of Obeid's parliamentary pension would also be a punishment of sorts.

Mr Hughes said the prison system could not offer Obeid the same standard of treatment for his health issues as he could get out of custody.

He argued for an alternative form of punishment, such as home detention, saying Obeid "had a limited time left on Earth" and should be allowed to spend it with his family.

Obeid will be sentenced on December 15.