Pacific push 'needs more foreign aid'

More foreign aid will go to Pacific nations under Scott Morrison but charities say the decimated aid budget still needs to be lifted from its lowest level ever.

The prime minister has signalled more aid will go to the Pacific islands, in part to push back against China's rising influence in the region.

But Save the Children director Mat Tinkler says Australia's aid budget needs to be higher to make a real difference.

"Many Pacific nations are still facing enormous need, for example, almost half of all children in Papua New Guinea have stunted growth from chronic malnutrition," Mr Tinkler said on Wednesday.

He welcomed Mr Morrison's plan to prioritise the Pacific when it comes to foreign aid "but our decimated aid budget can only stretch so far".

Mr Morrison told 2GB radio Australia needed to look after its own backyard.

"We've always been doing the right thing by them and we think back to Papua New Guinea, they did the right thing by us when it came to our Diggers," he told 2GB.

"So we have a very special relationship with the Pacific and we need to for our own interest as well as that it's part of the community and family of nations we live in."