Aid groups push for cuts to be reversed

The major parties are under pressure to spell out how they will rebuild the shattered foreign aid budget.

Australia has an international obligation to devote 0.7 per cent of national income to the budget by 2030 but under the government, the percentage has fallen to a low of 0.23.

"These devastating cuts have damaged Australia's successful poverty alleviation efforts and our reputation, particularly in our own region," Australian Council for International Development boss Marc Purcell said on Friday.