CANBERRA, Feb 8 - Australia will boost humanitarian aid to Myanmar while maintaining sanctions on the military regime, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Monday.

Smith said it was important to help Myanmar prepare for a time when it would have a civilian government.

The country is expected to hold its first parliamentary election in two decades sometime this year, the first step in what the ruling generals call a ''road map'' to democracy to end nearly 50 years of military rule.

''Burma's capacity cannot be allowed to completely atrophy to the ultimate disadvantage and cost of its people,'' Smith said in a statement to parliament.

He said Australia would increase its aid allocation by 40 percent to A$50 million ($43 million) - ($1=A$1.16) - a year, to help fight extreme poverty and improve child health and education in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

''The international community needs to start the rebuilding now. This is not a reward for Burma's military, but a recognition of the immense task faced by current and future generations of Burmese,'' he said.

Australia has banned military exports to Myanmar, and imposes travel and financial transaction sanctions against its military rulers.