Liberal backbenchers urge Coalition not to raid foreign aid budget to pay for rumoured $15bn defence boost

The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, and opposition leader, Peter Dutton, have not commented on reports that the Coalition was considering an increase of at least $15bn a year in defence spending. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Liberal backbenchers are urging the Coalition not to cut the overall foreign aid budget to pay for a potential $15bn increase in defence spending and other big-ticket budget items.

While the opposition is yet to announce details about its foreign aid package, the backbenchers have noted the UK government’s decision to slash the foreign aid budget to pay for a generational increase in defence spending.