SpicyTricks

The criteria that determines which countries receive aid funding from Australia is set to change, and there may be a little less focus on the Pacific region.

Australian aid is currently heavily directed to the Pacific, with Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands the biggest recipients.

MP Dr Andrew Leigh says while the Pacific remains Australia's priority, there should be less focus on region as a criteria for funding.

And he has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program, he is also pushing for better deals for countries like PNG, which has had a mining resouces boom, and yet the standard of living remains relatively low.

"Financial flows should be transparent. Companies should publish what they pay to governments and publish what they recieve from companies," he said.

"That makes sure that voters get the best deal out of the natural resources that are their birth right."

The Australian Government has increased the aid budget by almost $US500 million with much of it still to go to Pacific countries.