Political candidates and church leaders in the Hills aired their views on international aid at a forum at Baulkham Hills Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon, as the topic emerged as a significant election issue.

The candidates for the seat of Mitchell - except the Liberals' Alex Hawke who declined to attend - spoke about the need for more foreign aid funding.

Those attending included Nigel Gould (ALP), Toni Wright-Turner (Greens), Darryl Allen (Christian Democrats) and James Fiander (Climate Change Coalition).

Event organiser Mark Deaudney said all candidates who attended supported the push for more foreign aid.

"Everyone agreed that we should be trying to get the funding lifted," he said.

"The Australian government promised in 2000 that foreign aid would be 0.7 per cent of the budget by 2015, however it's now only 0.35 per cent. We're way below targets.

"We're one of the richest countries in the world, but 18th in giving foreign aid.

"There's a bit of ignorance about aid. This aid is for people living in extreme poverty, people who live on $1 a day.

"We could save peoples lives."

The forum was organised by the church's "Catalyst" group, which is in partnership with the "Make Poverty History" and "Micah Challenge" campaigns.

Also on Sunday, Pastor Brian Houston of Hillsong Church in Baulkham Hills was interviewed on the topic of foreign aid by Channel Nine News.

He said that world poverty and foreign aid were moral concerns that went beyond politics, and required bipartisan action.