Disgusting pork-barrel

'I think it's frankly disgusting that we've spent this money': Former Liberal senator Nick Minchin. Photo: David Mariuz

Former Liberal senator Nick Minchin has labelled Australia's successful bid for a seat on the United Nations security council as "disgusting".

Mr Minchin said the lobbying process, which cost about $25 million, was a waste of money because Australia's spot was a temporary one.

"We will have no influence because all the decisions are made by the permanent members of the UN security council," he told Network Ten's the Bolt Report program on Sunday.

"I think it's frankly disgusting that we've spent this money, this time and this effort to pursue something that I think compromises our aid program and potentially compromises our foreign affairs positions."

The federal government has said it's a massive diplomatic win for a middle-ranking power like Australia, with Foreign Minister Bob Carr calling it an endorsement of Australia's good global citizenship.

Mr Minchin, who was a cabinet minister in the Howard government, maintains it is a bad outcome.

"And now we've got Bob Carr prancing around the world saying he's going to solve the Syrian civil war," he said.

"What about our backyard? We've got lots of problems in the Pacific we should be focusing on."

Australia's bid for a two-year term on the security council beginning on January 1 was begun by former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd.

The council's permanent members, which have veto rights, are the US, UK, China, Russia and France.