Mr Markham said the glittering $200-a-head event, hosted by Wollongong MP Noreen Hay at the Lagoon Restaurant on March 5, sent entirely the wrong message to an electorate in the wake of corruption scandals.

"I'd like to know who attended, what they were offered, and (whether they) think there's some political gain to get out of it," Mr Markham said.

"I was a member for 15 years and I never had a $200-a-plate dinner, ever.

"The only money I ever raised was through sausage sizzles and chook raffles where branch members made a contribution to the funding of the campaign."

Mr Markham spent 11 years as the member for Keira and four representing Wollongong before he was defeated in a 2002 preselection battle by sitting member Noreen Hay.

This month's fundraiser was attended by almost 300 prominent business and community figures, including the chairman of the Illawarra branch of Regional Development Australia, Eddy De Gabriele.

Mr Gabriele said the event enabled him to speak directly to senior ministers, including NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal, John Robertson and Steven Whan.

As the Mercury reported yesterday, Ms Hay has declared she did not receive a single political donation in 2008 or the first half of 2009, despite being known as one of NSW Labor's most successful fundraisers.

The NSW ALP head office, to which Ms Hay has previously directed inquiries about political donations, did not respond to repeated requests for comment yesterday. Ms Hay also failed to respond.

Member for Kiama Matt Brown said the debate over political fundraising was "boring" and was of no interest to his constituents.

"Every day people express their concern to me about schools, roads and hospitals, but I've not had a single representation from anyone about raising political donations," he said.

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said the community still held deep concerns over the murky links between money and politics, which he said had flourished under this State Government.

"The Illawarra community is tired of Labor's arrogance and incompetence and is ready for change," Mr O'Farrell said.

"For there to be a change of government we need to see Liberal members representing the (region)."