A Catholic organisation in Australia says cuts to the foreign aid budget are unjustifiable.
Before the Australian election, the winning coalition announced it would save $4.2 billion US Dollars and there are fears that the cuts will affect Pacific island countries.
John Ferguson, the Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, says it was a shock to hear the announcement and he finds it distressing.
He says the move reneges on a commitment to get Australia's aid to 0.5 percent of the Gross National Income.
He says 50 cents for every one hundred Australian dollars earned is not a huge amount of money and the new policy is unjustifiable.
"I believe it would be very difficult for an Australian government to try and make a case that we need to make these $4.5 billion-dollar savings for the sake of the well-being of our economy."
John Ferguson, the Executive Officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.
