Minister defends Vanuatu aid budget

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has defended Australia's aid budget for Vanuatu.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's official website shows that development assistance to Vanuatu has fallen from $60.7 million in 2013/14 to $60.4 million in 2014/15.

However, a federal budget table relating to DFAT's "overseas development aid allocations" says the allocation for Vanuatu fell from $47.1 million in 2013/14 to $41.9 million in 2014/15 - a cut of $5.2 million.

Asked about the aid budget, Ms Bishop said it was "not right" to assert Vanuatu's allocation had been cut.

"We provide a significant amount of aid to Vanuatu," she told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

"It's about $60 million, plus we have numerous regional programs, plus we have all the support we provide through the United Nations and multilateral organisations."

The government is rolling out an emergency program through non-government organisations such as the Red Cross, as well as humanitarian and military aid, after Cyclone Pam's devastation of Vanuatu.