Labor aid commitment just 'breadcrumbs'

Aid groups are far from impressed with Labor's commitment to partially restore cuts to Australia's foreign aid budget, with one likening it to "throwing breadcrumbs".

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek told delegates to an international development conference in Sydney on Friday that Labor in government would provide an extra $30 million a year to Australian non-government aid agencies

Another $10 million would be invested to work with NGOs and others to improve aid effectiveness.

But $11 billion in cuts the coalition has made since coming to power in mid-2013 will not be reversed.

ActionAid director Archie Law likened the announcement to "throwing breadcrumbs".

"Let's not forget that the recent trend of cutting the aid budget was initiated by Labor in 2012," he said in a statement.

Oxfam Australia said the modest commitment was a "good first step" but insisted more funding was needed to meet global development goals.

Micah, a coalition of churches and Christian organisations, wants the aid budget increased to 0.5 per cent of gross national income.

The Greens want to go further by increasing funding to 0.5 per cent by 2025.

International Development Minister Steven Ciobo earlier told the conference he understood that while aid groups were unhappy about government cuts the ingenuity of their staff would help them continue to combat poverty.

"I'll acknowledge it up front, some of you would be very upset about the reductions in funding that my government has made and announced" he said.

FOREIGN AID PROMISES BY PARTY

* Coalition: no extra funding at this stage.

* Labor: $30 million more to NGOs and $10 million for oversight efficiencies

* Greens: Committed to increasing the aid budget to 0.7 per cent of gross national income by 2025