Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she doesn't expect any cuts to her department's funding in next week's mid-year budget review.
Foreign aid and other elements of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been seen as low-hanging fruit as the government seeks to find budget savings.
But Ms Bishop, who on Tuesday launched the first stage of a foreign policy white paper, told reporters she expected her department's budget to avoid cuts in MYEFO on Monday.
Asked whether she had requested a quarantine from cuts as the white paper is developed, she said: "I spend a great deal of time ensuring that the DFAT budget is appropriately resourced and I will continue to do so."
Ms Bishop told the audience at the launch she would like to see Australia's 100-plus embassies and posts around the world expanded.
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"I believe we need more," she said, adding that efficiencies could be found within the department to expand the diplomatic network.
The white paper, which will complement a "Pacific strategy" also being developed by the department, will be the first of its kind since 2003.
It will set out a definition of Australia's national interests, what countries will matter most to Australia over the next decade, which regional and global organisations Australia will focus on, steps to expand trade and investment, security challenges and what assets are needed to advance the country's interests.
Ms Bishop said she didn't believe the paper would quickly become redundant amid major shifts in geopolitics such as the Donald Trump presidency and Brexit.
"This is precisely the time when we should be developing a white paper," she said.
"What we're looking for is a comprehensive strategic framework so that we are able to positively shape and have some influence over our national interests and shape things for the better, rather than reacting to events once they have occurred," she said.
The white paper is due for release by September 2017.
Meanwhile, the minister confirmed talks with Japan's foreign and defence ministers had been deferred until early next year while Defence Minister Marise Payne recovers from surgery.
Senator Payne's illness has raised speculation Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull may reshuffle his cabinet in coming months.
