Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has questioned Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy over the price tag of a Labor Party business event in Sydney.

Senator Thorpe raised the issue of the $4000 a head April 9 event in the senate on Thursday, claiming it would give "corporate bigwigs" access to the minister.

She cited research from the Australian Institute which found a majority of people believe politicians should refuse to participate in "cash for access events".

"Will you cancel this event to reflect community expectations and avoid public perception that the Minister for Indigenous Australians is engaging in corrupt conduct?" Senator Thorpe asked.

Senator McCarthy said she would "very pleased" to attend the event "in terms of meeting stakeholders in New South Wales".

"I think it's really important to move beyond the areas that I know really well in terms of Northern Australia to have some time with stakeholders in New South Wales... I think it's certainly important to be able to do that," the minister said.

Senator Thorpe noted that event was priced "just below the disclosure threshold... meaning the identities of your cashed up guests will not be revealed".

"Will you commit to voluntarily publishing who you meet at this event so mob and the public can see who is being sold access to you?"

Senator McCarthy responded that she follows the disclosure rules and that transparency is "expected of me as a minister in this government".

Senator Thorpe then claimed grassroots organisations "struggle" to get a meeting with Senator McCarthy and asked if the minister would cancel the April 9 event and use that time to meet "with some of the many grassroots organisations and mob who are waiting to meet with you", sparking a rebuke from Senate President, Sue Lines, who alleged the question carried "a really grubby imputation".

Senator McCarthy responded that she meets with "as many stakeholders as possible, not just here in Canberra... but right across the country".

"And if I can't meet personally, I also try to meet online or with phone calls and my staff, who are very diligent in trying to reach out to everyone who contacts my office, and I do appreciate the work of my team, but not only in my office... right across the cabinet, and my colleagues who try to assist with stakeholders, Senator Thorpe, and I think you know that very well," the minister said.