Helen Haines says she is "disturbed" by the way relationships between MPs and their staffers are taking the focus away from work that politicians should be doing.
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The Indi MP was part of a panel on the ABC's Q+A on Monday night, which focused on the issue of integrity after allegations made against government ministers Christian Porter and Allan Tudge on Four Corners last week.
The show finished with a debate between Dr Haines and Barnaby Joyce on farming and renewable energy.
After listening to former Labor MP Emma Husar and Nationals MP Mr Joyce share their stories are being pushed into the spotlight after allegations of poor integrity, Dr Haines said this showed why the Parliament needed a code of conduct because "things can go awry".
"For every second that we talk about this, we're not actually doing the work that the Australian people want us to do in the Parliament and that really disturbs me," she said.
She used the platform to talk about her proposed federal integrity commission, introduced to the House of Representatives last month.
"There should never be sexual harassment that goes unchecked, we absolutely need to have a process for that.
"But likewise, Barnaby - if you say there is mutual attraction, these things happen - then make the right steps."
The show also focused on the different ways Ms Husar - who is no longer in politics - was treated compared to her male colleagues engulfed in scandal, which Dr Haines said was "horrendous".
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The Indi MP stayed out of the back-and-forth arguing between Mr Joyce and Ms Husar, but called on voters to look out the outside influences on politicians.
"We don't have transparency around political donations," she said.
"We need much stronger legislation around that.
"I think we just to be asking the question 'who is in the ear of our politicians?' ... We need to be very alive to what other influences, what other lobbyists, what other political donations are coming in and having an impact on politicians who are meant to serve us all."
The final question led to a heated argument between Mr Joyce and a questioner about climate change and the Nationals' support of mining.
Asked to come in on the debate, Dr Haines turned her attention to renewable energy - she said she would move a private members bill this month for a local power agency and asked for Mr Joyce's support.
Mr Joyce mocked her for sounding like an advertisement, saying her comment was "endorsed by Helen Haines, member for Indi, Commonwealth government of Canberra".
"I'm going to cut you a deal on national television," he said.
"If you talk about compensation for farmers for what has been taken off them without payment, I'm absolutely all eyes and ears - let's talk about it."
But Dr Haines said "I am not talking about that at all".
