Decision making in relation to exceptional circumstances (EC) relief for farmers needs to be reviewed.

It is anomalous the Lower South East has missed out on being drought declared while the Upper South East and Western Victoria continue to receive Federal Government assistance.

Federal Member for Barker, Patrick Secker, has said he is outraged at the decision by Agriculture Minister Tony Bourke.

"There is simply no reason for the South East of South Australia to be denied funding," he said.

While it's right to argue strongly on behalf of an important part of his electorate, Mr Secker might also seek a review of the process by which decisions are made.

Continuing the practice of the previous government, the Minister makes decisions based on the advice of independent assessors.

The National Rural Advisory Council (comprising farmers, agribusiness and industry experts) determines whether a full case has been made against the EC criteria.

The advisory council provides a recommendation to the Minister on whether the applying region should be EC declared. The Minister must seek approval from the Commonwealth Government before declaring that an area is experiencing EC.

Mr Bourke has already come under pressure for the Latrobe Council area in Victoria being similarly isolated in terms of EC eligibility. Farmers in the Callignee bushfire area have been cut off from drought assistance.

Meanwhile, climate change has complicated the question of what's exceptional and what's normal.

There needs to be a bipartisan approach to determining how such programs are managed and delivered.