Katy Gallagher is acting in response to programs she claims have been rorted by the federal government, including sport grants overseen by Wodonga-based Senator Bridget McKenzie.

"The bill will force ministers who approve grants rejected by their departments or who award grants in their own electorates to report the decision to the finance minister within 30 days," Senator Gallagher said.

"The finance minister will then be required to table those reports in the parliament within five sitting days of receiving them.

"This will dramatically reduce the time ministers are able to hide their dodgy decisions from the Australian community from 16 months down to just a couple of months."

Senator McKenzie's office did not reply to The Border Mail on Tuesday when asked for a response to the bill.

A spokesperson for Environment Minister and Farrer MP Sussan Ley noted the government was planning to legislate for a national integrity commission via a bill to be introduced this year.

"It is important to get this bill right and have an effective body, rather than try and score political points for short term political gain," Ms Ley's representative said.

Indi MP Helen Haines, who has a bill for an anti-corruption body, said the Labor plan was a limited fix.

"This bill attempts to solve part of the problem we face when we only find out about such decisions months, sometimes years after they have been made," Dr Haines said.

"While that is a good idea, it does not solve the real issue, and will not create systemic change.

"The only way for there to be systemic change is for a strong watchdog to be on the case, investigating rorts and scandals, and creating a culture of integrity."

Senator Gallagher's bill is not expected to be debated until the end of August.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Rules surrounding grants to electorates by ministers would not apply to Senators who represent states.

It follows Labor's Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus last week spruiking the Opposition's anti-corruption body which he said would be more powerful than the watchdog proposed by the government.

Dr Haines noted Labor had reannounced its plan and added that her bill had the same measures, public hearings, public referrals and retrospectivity, and was "ready to be voted on".

The member for Indi was in parliament on Tuesday as it resumed following the winter adjournment.

Many MPs from areas with COVID outbreaks were unable to travel to Canberra and logged in remotely.

Ms Ley is not attending parliament this week in person because she is quarantining at home after returning from an overseas trip.

As Environment Minister, she travelled to Europe last month and successfully lobbied a UNESCO world heritage committee to not put the Great Barrier Reef on its 'in danger' list after a draft move to adopt that classification.