An Australian former heroin addict dying of liver failure will have to face strict selection criteria to receive a second live liver transplant in New Zealand, even though her first failed when she returned to taking drugs.

Claire Murray, a 24-year-old mother-of-two, has been told she will die within six months without another liver transplant, but she has been barred from the Western Australia liver transplant list.

It is reported that doctors in Perth won't put her back on the transplant programme.

"The selection criteria for patients for live donor liver transplant are no different to the selection criteria for a deceased donor transplant or a normal transplant", doctors say.

The Australian Government is revealed to foot the bill of $250,000 and has offered to fly Claire and one of her parents to be assessed for a live donor transplant in Auckland - the procedure is not performed in Australia.

Health Minister Kim Hames says the situation does set a precedent, but says she is mindful of the "desperate need of the family".