?Keep the bastards honest?: former Australian Democrats leader joins high-profile group backing independents

As Scott Morrison comes to the end of a ragged parliamentary week, the organisation bankrolling independents challenging Liberal incumbents in their urban heartland has amassed an election war chest of more than $4m, and bolstered its advisory body.

The former leader of the Australian Democrats, Meg Lees, has joined the advisory council of Climate 200, as has the former Liberal party leader John Hewson, and the Labor veteran Barry Jones.

Moderate metropolitan Liberals facing challenges from independents supported by Climate 200 have stepped up their visibility during the major policy debates of the last few months - climate change, religious discrimination, and the long-delayed federal integrity commission.

Morrison has faced open rebellions during the penultimate parliamentary sitting week from MPs opposed to mandatory vaccinations, and from the moderate Liberal Bridget Archer, who crossed the floor on Thursday to support an attempt by the independent Helen Haines to bring on debate about a federal anti-corruption body.

Liberal moderates including Andrew Bragg, Dave Sharma and Trent Zimmerman have been vocal during the internal debate about the government's religious discrimination package, arguing protections for gay teachers and students should be considered at the same time, not 12 months after the religious discrimination legislation takes effect.

The former ABC journalist and foreign correspondent Zoe Daniel announced on Thursday she will run as an independent in the upcoming federal election in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein, which is currently held by the Liberal MP Tim Wilson.

Lees said she had joined Climate 200's advisory council because "if ever there was a need to keep the bastards honest now is the time".