"It finds every crack and crevice," the sometimes Machiavellian campaign manager Bruno Gianelli explained in the landmark political series.

While there is little chance the bright young things of the Bartlet White House would feel at home in the ACT Legislative Assembly, plenty appear willing to pay to get close to Canberra's powerful.

In the days leading up to next month's ACT budget, business leaders will fork out as much as $2000 per person to rub shoulders with Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Andrew Barr.

Invitations to ACT Labor's budget-eve fund-raising events have been sent to business leaders in recent weeks, with cocktails at an undisclosed location setting guests back $250 each.

The June 2 function will be followed by a $2000 budget-eve dinner, with the location only confirmed to paid-up ticket holders.

Spending $250 means guests won't have to disclose their donation to the party's coffers. The figure is the highest amount individuals can spend without being included on a public record of political contributions.

Guests joining the 7.30pm dinner will be subject to strict electoral disclosure rules, however, and all can receive a 10 per cent discount if they purchase tickets for 10 people or more.

An invitation, obtained by The Canberra Times, reminds recipients that "spots are limited" and spruiks the next of Labor's more regular events, the so-called Lundy Business Dinner.

On the other side of the Assembly, the Canberra Liberals Southern Electorate Branch is getting ready for a July 4 trivia night hosted by former Wallabies and Brumbies player Joe Roff.

Tickets for the Tuggeranong event will set you back $40 per person, or $280 for a table of eight.

The party's Gungahlin Branch is selling $90 tickets for a Christmas in July event with Abbott government assistant education minister Sussan Ley.

Mr Barr also hosted about 30 people at a two-hour cocktail and canapes function at Canberra's Diamant Hotel this month, celebrating his eight years as a minister.

Tickets for the reception were $250-per-person.

Both parties use funds raised from the events for administration and campaign costs, a practice that is routine around Australia.

Ms Gallagher said Canberrans had no need to be concerned about political fund-raisers.

"This is something we have done for many years. It's usually on the eve or the night of the budget so there is no issue around influence of decision making or anything like that," she said.

"Under our system, political parties need to raise money and these are one way of doing that. They are entirely appropriate and part of our electoral system as it stands and regulated by law."

She said hosting the events directly before the budget was delivered meant there was no opportunity for guests to seek influence.

"We have gone through a lot of electoral reform in the ACT, and as a result we are in a highly regulated jurisdiction," Ms Gallagher said.

"We have a very high level of disclosure and transparency, for good reason, and I support that."