That's after the Moyne Shire councillors unanimously rejected the cash because the council is clearly not in drought and it was embarrassing to be granted $1 million when other parts of Australia are experiencing their worst conditions in 120 years.

Images of flooded paddocks, knee-high grass and crops to fence tops should have been a tip-off for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development to keep a very, very low profile.

But, no, officials at DITCRD have rerun the data and confirmed the 13 councils announced last Friday as part of the $100 federal government drought relief package, are eligible for $1 million - "including the Moyne Shire in Victoria."

Just, because you say it doesn't make it's so.

It's a bit like the superannuation ads on TV - past performance is not a reflection of current stupidity.

Moyne Shire is not in drought - please, let's move on.

I got a text message about this funding late Friday night from a reliable source and like everyone else thought it was a spelling mistake.

I checked it early Saturday morning and ran the story.

I texted my editor and deputy editor a word of warning that I had gone hard. (I've never done that before.)

The Moyne Shire $1 million grant story has run nationwide for four days. It was leading the ABC TV news on Sunday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison copped a bath when he came out saying the government was being "overly generous".

Mr Morrison there's a difference between being overly generous and just plain wrong, especially when there are farmers in desperate, desperate need.

My Mum and Dad have been farmers in Moyne for more than 40 years.

I thought I was on fairly firm footing calling this decision out for what it was - bulldust.

Certainly more firm footing than Dad's been able to get in his gumboots opening the gates for the past three months to feed his heifers.

Data is one thing but a simple phone call to anyone in Moyne - let's say the council CEO Bill Millard or Mayor Mick Wolfe - would have saved a lot of embarrassment.

This is the sort of decision that undermines public confidence in government.

So, DITCRD goes on to say it is committed to delivering support to those communities most in need.

It's a fine and completely supportable concept.

"We also understand the importance of local knowledge in determining areas most in need of drought support and will continue to engage with those communities," the spokesperson said

And that's my point.

There was no engagement with Moyne, there was no local knowledge and one of the councils with some of the worst roads in Australia had to turn around and say: Keep your $1 million because there are others that need it more.

Well done Moyne, you made us proud.

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