The Corowa Liberal Party branch had 70 guests booked in for the event at the Royal Hotel.

Branch secretary-treasurer Angus Macneil said proceeds from the $70 per head function wouldn't be used to assist the election campaigns of Liberal candidates Justin Clancy and Sussan Ley in the seats of Albury and Farrer.

"I don't think the Liberal Party will make much out of it," Mr Macneil said.

"It's not really a fundraiser.

"It's more about getting people together and wanting them to hear about the experience of Bill Kelty in his era as ACTU secretary in the Hawke-Keating (Labor) governments.

"There was a lot more bi-partisan relationship between Coalition governments and Labor in those days compared to today where it is so adversarial."

Mr Macneil confirmed the proceeds would be going towards drought relief efforts.

"We are interested to hear the other side of the story," he said.

"He has spoken at other Liberal functions before.

"He is a renowned speaker and been a high profile person for a long time."

Mr Kelty was secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) from 1983 to 2000 with Mr Shorten a one-time member of its executive.

Mr Shorten was also national secretary of the Australian Workers Union before entering politics.

Albury Labor branch secretary and union official Darren Cameron said he was shocked Mr Kelty would attend a Liberal Party function.

"It is very poor form for someone who spent a lifetime in the Labor movement to be attending Liberal Party functions which are obviously fundraisers when we have state and federal campaigns happening," he said.

Mr Macneil said Mr Kelty wasn't charging an appearance fee for the function.

Flyers promoting the event carried the NSW Liberals logo.