In response to a series of adverse weather events, in parts of the cereal crop belt from 1998 to 2001, the State and the Commonwealth Governments implemented support measures for farmers in the cereal belt of Western Australia. A critique of the State Government Adverse Seasonal Conditions in the Agricultural Sector (ASCAS) support packages is presented. The schemes are expensive, could adversely affect the normal adjustment process, have subjective boundaries, deliver grants to some multi millionaires, attract a small element of clearly ineligible claimants, and in 2001 the second ASCAS package was provided prior to excellent late winter and spring rains.