Mr Ciobo claimed more than $1000 on airfares for a trip to the 2013 AFL grand final as a guest of National Australia Bank, along with two other ministers.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has also come under fire for charging taxpayers more than $2700 to attend a polo event at the invitation of Peroni and Jeep.
But an unapologetic Mr Ciobo believes they're entirely appropriate.
"The notion and suggestion that because ministers or parliamentary secretaries or others are invited to go along to these events, specifically by businesses and organisations who are taking the opportunity to showcase themselves there and to take the time to have a conversation in relation to important matters ... absolutely (it) is work-related," he told ABC radio on Friday.
He said he was invited to the grand final not because he was Steve Ciobo, but because he was parliamentary secretary to the treasurer at the time.
He admitted he uses a taxpayer-funded car to go to sporting matches in his Queensland electorate "and I think people expect that".
Mr Ciobo also defended Malcolm Turnbull's silence on the issue of entitlements since the revelations that led to Sussan Ley standing aside as health minister.
He said the acting Special Minister of State Kelly O'Dwyer had addressed media, and that the government's made it clear its intention to reform workplace- related expenses for parliamentarians.
"I don't believe the prime minister needs to come out on each and every single issue that's running each and every single day," he said.
RELATED READING
Health Minister Ley stands aside amid travel claims review
But independent MP Andrew Wilkie is somewhat sceptical.
He said the government flagged last year it would implement the 36 recommendations from a review into politicians' entitlements yet had done nothing.
"If there isn't more talk and speedy action by the government, then I and (the other) crossbenchers will try to move regulatory reform ourselves," he told the ABC.
Mr Wilkie wants a full audit of parliamentary travel during the current and previous terms, a requirement that politicians list all substantive activity - both public and private - they conduct on a trip, and for police to get involved in cases of wrongdoing.
Former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, whose use of a $5000 helicopter ride between Melbourne and Geelong to attend a Liberal party fundraiser in 2015 led to the review, called on the government push ahead with reform.
"Get on with it," she told Sky News.
"If the rules seem to be inadequate, change the rules. Don't keep talking about 'pub tests' - have some proper rules in place that work."
Labor frontbencher Doug Cameron said the opposition was willing to sit down with the government to nut out legislative changes.
"It's absolutely essential that we don't let politicians take decisions that bring the whole political process into disrepute - that's what's been happening," he told Sky News.
"These 36 changes I think are the way forward."
The findings of the investigation into Ms Ley's travel expense claims will reportedly be handed down on Friday.
