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But Mr Reynolds said that would catch a hypothetical case in which a politician was motivated to raise funds by "10 purposes", nine of which furthered the interests of his electorate, if the 10th "noble purpose" was to "assist orphans in Aleppo".
This "benign or noble" motivation would trigger a "breach of duty" because it was not in the interests of NSW citizens, Mr Reynolds said.
"This goes right to the root of the whole of the case," Mr Reynolds said.
"This is the very duty on which everything swings."
He also referred to a hypothetical "member for Manly" – Premier Mike Baird's seat – lobbying for lower ferry fares on behalf of the public.
The fact that the local member's family would also benefit by paying $60 a month less in fares would see him fall foul of the duty to act only in the public interest, Mr Reynolds submitted.
He said Obeid had "strong grounds" of appeal and should be released on bail pending the outcome of that case.
The court's formulation of the duty owed by politicians to the public would produce "absurd" results and catch "many activities" by MPs in day to day life, Mr Reynolds said.
