National drought summit next month: PM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will host a national drought summit on October 26 in Canberra.

Mr Morrison told a meeting on Wednesday, where he received an update on drought-related activities, it remained his top priority to deal with not just immediate relief, but ensuring communities can recover and rebuild.

"That (summit) will provide an opportunity to get a status update on everything that is being done both at the state and commonwealth level," Mr Morrison said.

He told the meeting that federal funding given to local councils in drought-hit states for projects to keep towns viable was having a positive impact.

"We can't make it rain but we can support those regional and local economies in those towns," he said.

Mr Morrison said while donations of tinned fruit and other items were welcome in struggling communities, the best support was to spend money locally.

Wednesday's meeting included briefings from national drought co-ordinator Major General Stephen Day and special envoy Barnaby Joyce.

The government's latest drought-relief measure passed the lower house on Wednesday, which allows farmers to immediately deduct the cost of fodder storage assets, making it easier to stockpile.