Political parties will have to publicly disclose donations of more than $5000 under law changes approved by the Labor caucus on Tuesday.
The changes are understood to have coalition backing. Veteran Labor senator John Faulkner and NSW MP Daryl Melham argued against the move, saying the threshold should be $1000 instead of the current $12,000.
However four ministers argued in favour, noting that the battle for a $1000 threshold - initially sought by former leader Kevin Rudd five years ago - had been unsuccessful and the $5000 threshold had a better chance of gaining bipartisan support.
The caucus also signed off on a $1-a-vote administration payment to go to political parties. Addressing the government's move on live betting odds on television, Prime Minister Julia Gillard told the meeting she understood why the advertisements "drive people nuts".
A motion brought by backbencher Stephen Jones seeking a complete ban on gambling advertising during children's television hours was amended to support the government's position announced on the weekend.
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Labor MPs also backed a call for independent research into the value and intensity of gambling advertising.
Victorian MP Steve Gibbons lodged a notice of motion to enable caucus members to appoint members of the executive.
The rule was changed after the 2007 election win, to enable Mr Rudd to appoint his own frontbench team. It is expected to be debated on June 18.
