The Morrison government is continuing to weigh up drought relief proposals ahead of announcing its much-anticipated national strategy.
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The Nationals have already proposed their own relief plan, a $1.3 billion package which includes $10 million in cash grants for every council in drought.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan has played down suggestions of infighting in the coalition, saying he expects the government to soon do more to help struggling farmers.
But the Queensland LNP senator was mum on whether his colleagues had weighed up possible tax relief for struggling farmers.
The income tax proposal will be canvassed by the government's expenditure review committee this week.
Despite the Nationals' plan, Senator Canavan insists the party's discussions around drought aren't focused on a dollar figure.
"It was centred around what we could do and at the heart of proposals put forward by Barnaby (Joyce) and others, is about providing broader assistance for our community," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.
Senator Canavan is hesitant about exit packages for drought-affected farmers wanting to leave the land, saying it's not an option that should be rushed into.
"I'm much more interested in finding ways to keep Australians on the land because I believe in our future as a farming community, farming economy, so I don't want to rush to have people go to the exit," he said.
"I'm not trying to claim that every farmer in every place, every family, stays there forever. Things obviously do shift and change."
The idea has been touted by the National Farmers' Federation as one of six measures the federal government could put on the table to help stem growing desperation in some rural areas.
That's in addition to the NFF's drought policy, which president Fiona Simson says does more than just acknowledge there is a drought.
"It sets out roles and responsibilities going forward, and it also talks about a framework where we currently absolutely think about drought and review and assess the measures in drought," she told ABC News.
"Not just when we're in drought, which is what happens now - but when we're outside of drought as well."
The NFF's plan also includes relief from council rates and pasture lease charges.
The farm lobby wants the Commonwealth to look at payroll subsidies for farming businesses in line with Newstart.
Labor has also called on the government to convene a bipartisan drought cabinet and release the drought coordinator's report.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says the government's plan shouldn't just deal with immediate measures, but include a long-term strategy incorporating climate change.
Australian Associated Press
