Crossbenchers who could hold the balance of power have backed more than tripling Australia's meagre foreign aid budget to meet international benchmarks.
The nation's development assistance - particularly for the Pacific - has roared into relevancy in the federal election campaign in recent days.
The coalition, which cut foreign aid during its most recent spell in government, has been asked whether it might do so again as it chases savings in the federal budget.
Peter Dutton was non-committal in Wednesday night's leaders debate, while shadow finance minister Jane Hume told the ABC on Thursday the coalition would "support regional obligations" while reviewing whether it was effective.
Anthony Albanese's government has delivered a modest uplift during this term, allocating $5.1 billion in last month's budget.
However, at 0.18 per cent of gross national income, it's well short of Labor's platform, which includes the goal of 0.5 per cent of gross national income (GNI).
Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, the party's spokeswoman for international aid, said Australia needed to be more generous.
"We have a longstanding policy of increasing the Australian aid budget to the UN endorsed target of 0.7 per cent of GNI over 10 years," she told AAP.
Greens policy becomes significant in the outcome of a minority parliament, when they and other crossbenchers will hold sway over which party takes office.
Senator Faruqi said in that event, they would look to support a second term for Mr Albanese and requiring him to pony up for Australia's poorer neighbours.
"In a minority parliament, the Greens will keep Dutton out and get Labor to act to pay their fair share of international aid," she confirmed.
AAP surveyed crossbenchers for their views on Australia's foreign aid budget and whether it would come into their considerations in the event of policy negotiations in a minority government scenario.
SA-based independent Rebekha Sharkie called the 0.7 per cent target "commendable" and said aid must be targeted to the Pacific - a position agreed by Labor and the coalition.
"While it is likely not front of mind in many households in Mayo as we face a cost-of-living crisis, I know it is in the minds of many families and communities across the Pacific, particularly with the recent dramatic changes to foreign aid delivery by USAID," she said.
"This is an opportunity for Australia to maintain and even strengthen our presence and to continue to be seen as a strong and supportive partner with our Pacific neighbours."
Long-standing Queensland MP Bob Katter declined to answer AAP's questions, with a media adviser saying Mr Katter was likely more interested in "looking after our nation first".
Andrew Wilkie, the four-term Tasmanian MP, said Australia had a "moral obligation to dramatically increase foreign aid" to the UN benchmark.
"We also have a security obligation to help develop our region so that it's stable, peaceful and prosperous ... to do anything less is to diminish our rich and fortunate country," he said.
Sophie Scamps, the Mackellar MP, also supports lifting foreign aid and has previously linked the development budget to the surging defence budget.
A fresh ANU analysis shows defence spending running at 11 times aid spending - a higher ratio than at any point in Australia's history - which Dr Scamps has called "counterproductive".
She supports the development sector's Safer World For All campaign which advocates a one per cent budget spend on development assistance, up from the current 0.65 per cent.
Without committing to the 0.7 per cent goal, Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel said she saw foreign aid as a regional investment made more important due to US policy shifts.
"Foreign aid is not charity - it's nation-building, partnership-strengthening, and a cornerstone of regional security," she said.
Lifting aid levels are not the only concerns the crossbench MPs have raised about Australia's foreign affairs budget.
In 2024, the teal independents made representations to Foreign Minister Penny Wong to ensure aid was reaching Gaza.
As for how much Australians want to spend on foreign aid: it depends on the framing of the question.
The Lowy Institute regularly polls on attitudes towards foreign aid, finding last year that Australians overwhelmingly support aid towards the Pacific for disaster relief, with 92 per cent of respondents in favour.
Large majorities also support "preventing China from increasing influence" (84 per cent), aid for development purposes (83 per cent), to provide vaccines (80 per cent) and for climate assistance (76 per cent).
However, asked whether the government should increase foreign aid, just 17 supported an uplift, while 40 per cent said it should be reduced.
In 2018, the institute asked Australians how much of the budget they thought was spent on aid: on average it was 14 per cent, whereas in reality it is less than one per cent.
FOREIGN AID IN FOCUS
* The foreign aid budget for 2025-26 is $5.1 billion, which is 0.65 per cent of the budget or 0.18 per cent of GNI
* That's up by $135.8 million from last year - but down from 0.68 per cent of the budget and 0.2 of GNI
* Over recent decades, Australia has spent less and less on foreign aid as a proportion of the budget
* In 2025, the government will spend $186 from every Australian on aid, according to an ANU analysis, down from a peak of $306 just over a decade ago
* In 2014, the coalition oversaw large cuts to foreign aid, but it increased spending in future budgets, just as Labor has done since taking office in 2022
* Australia ranks poorly among richer countries for its generosity to developing nations: ranking 26th of 31 donors for aid compared to GNI
