Anne Ruston, the Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific, denies Australia is burdening Pacific nations with unnecessary debt.
It comes after the Prime Minister Scott Morrison's trip to Vanuatu and to Fiji last month ((JAN)) and he announced a number of economic projects.
Among them was the two-billion-dollar so-called "Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific", which provides grants and loans to Pacific nations for investments in various kinds of infrastructure.
Former International Development Minister, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells ((con-CHET-uh fear-uh-van-chee wells)), says Pacific countries already owe Australia 5-point-5 billion dollars.
Senator Ruston has told S-B-S' Samoan program she hopes Australia is looking to specifically tailor the loans and grants to each Pacific nation.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne is touring the Pacific this week, with security and climate change expected to be key discussion points.
