Through dusty brown and red paddocks, the prime minister's convoy pulled into Kevin and Robyn West's NSW farm near Dubbo.
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Scott Morrison arrived at their 1300-acre Eumengerie property along with Nationals leader Michael McCormack and Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to announce a $57.4 million drought promise.
The Wests are grappling with sustained dry conditions which forced them to de-stock from 900 to 400 sheep to make loan and machinery payments.
"I'm not alone. I've got a few mates," Kevin said at Globelands, his farm north of Dubbo.
He's hoping last year's fertiliser will have hung around in the ground long enough to help this year's crop.
"He hasn't even looked at fertiliser this year - that's really worrying," Mr McCormack told reporters after touring their farm.
The Wests' grandson Darcy Joesephs, 2, helped his grandfather and the politicians throw some hay into a paddock for some appreciative cattle.
The coalition's package includes $7 million to help rural financial counsellors - the "angels" of the drought according to Mr Morrison.
"They have sat down around kitchen tables with station owners and others all around the country to help them prepare and get through this difficult period," he said.
The bulk of the money - $36.4 million - will permanently raise the asset threshold for farm household assistance payments to $5 million.
Another 14 local councils in drought-affected regions will get $1 million grants, taking the total number to 110.
Mr Morrison also used the opportunity to attack Labor for not supporting the $3.9 billion Future Drought Fund.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said the opposition would look at the new package.
"We're up for helping," he told reporters in Hobart.
He pointed to Labor's commitment to put a floor price on milk and $100 million for irrigation projects in Tasmania.
Australian Associated Press
