Major party MPs have refused to sign onto a transparency register outlining who they've given access to Parliament House with a sponsored lobbying pass.
Independent senator David Pocock launched a self-declaration register following frustration at a lack of transparency from the federal government.
Half a dozen independents and a One Nation senator have collectively disclosed 78 sponsored passes on the parliamentary pass register.
One coalition MP's office accidentally sent over a list of sponsored passes before revoking access.
Parliamentarians can sponsor passes for lobbyists that give them access to otherwise restricted areas within Parliament House in Canberra.
Independents say this gives lobbyists the power to influence MPs and ministers without transparency.
"There shouldn't be anything to hide. What are people afraid of?" Senator Pocock told reporters at Parliament House on Monday.
"Australians deserve to know who can walk in here and lobby their elected representatives."
Independent MP Helen Haines, who has disclosed her sponsored passes on the voluntary register, chastised major party MPs who disparaged independents when they called for more transparency.
"We want to see transparency, not as a gimmick and that's what the government tends to do when they're looking at the crossbench and our endeavours to increase transparency, we're accused of being pious," she said.
"This is all diminishing what the Australian people truly want and that's a government that's open, that's accountable, that can explain themselves and is not afraid of letting the sunlight in."
Independent MP Monique Ryan reintroduced her bill to better regulate lobbying, including making ministerial diaries publicly available and stopping former parliamentarians and staff lobbying as soon as they leave politics.
There were major loopholes with the current lobbyist register and the code of conduct was weak and unenforced, Ms Ryan told parliament.
"What we want, what we need, is to hold public officials to a higher standard of integrity," she said.
"When they leave public office, government representatives shouldn't be able to use their insider knowledge for personal gain or for the commercial benefit of their new employer."
WrapNational Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
