The 39-year-old Sydneysider has made us laugh on cult web series The Bondi Hipsters and TV show Soul Mates - which were co-created with Nicholas Boshier - and last year he directed the film A Sunburnt Christmas, that debuted on Stan.

However, one hat Van Vuuren stresses that cannot be placed on his head is political expert.

Like many Australians Van Vuuren has long been disenchanted and disinterested in the political system.

He freely admits his knowledge didn't exceed much beyond what students learn on their rite of passage school excursion to Canberra.

"I've never been a really political person, and if anything, I was starting to be a bit cynical or pessimistic about the political state of the country," Van Vuuren says.

However, Van Vuuren has found himself presenting a new two-part documentary, Big Deal, that explores the role of big money on the Australian political system.

Big Deal is directed by The Chaser's Craig Reucassel and fans of his previous documentaries War On Waste and Fight For Planet A will recognise the tone of delivering damning information with a mix of concern, humour and hope.

Van Vuuren brings his wit and provocation to the role, but also his political naivety.

It makes for some confronting viewing as the stark reality of the size of donations multinational companies make to both Liberal and Labor parties in exchange for "access" is revealed and the lack of transparency around those transactions.

"This whole documentary isn't about illegal things or corruption, this documentary is all about the stuff that's perfectly legal within the political system," Van Vuuren says.

"One of the things I found really shocking was how much everyone does it because it's how things are done.

"When you realise why the money is being raised, which is to run campaigns and spend on advertising, you realise the whole thing is an arms race.

"The Labor Party are just raising money so they can compete with the Liberal Party who are trying to raise money to compete with Labor Party. It's a chicken and egg thing.

"They're trying out raise each other so they can outspend each other, so their voices are louder come election time."

Big Deal features interviews with political figures like Malcolm Turnbull, Sam Dastyari, Jacqui Lambie, Linda Burney, and Zali Steggall, as well as journalists, lobbyists and political donors, including property developer and former Newcastle lord mayor Jeff McCloy.

In fact, McCloy who famously told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in 2014 that NSW Liberal candidates made him feel like "a walking ATM", provides one of most startling moments.

In the documentary Van Vuuren travels to Newcastle for lunch with McCloy at his ocean-side home where he explains he also donated $100,000 to NSW Labor on two occasions when they were in government to have lunch with a premier and ministers.

"It just shows how far some of us are from that level of conversation with those that represent us," Van Vuuren says.

Remarkably, the experience of working on Big Deal hasn't left Van Vuuren more cynical about politics.

Rather it's encouraged him that ordinary people can make a difference by becoming engaged in politics and making an informed decision at the ballot box.

"The really wonderful part of the experience for me was coming to realise that the answer is not to let it become this big other existential problem in a time when we've got plenty of existential problems to worry about," he says.

"It's actually realising we need to lean into democracy and actually get involved in the process, kill our phones and actually connect with people and talk about the ways we could improve our countries.

"If we did that, we'd have more chance of fixing this."

Big Deal premieres next Tuesday at 8.30pm on ABC.