Barnaby Joyce says he will push the bosses of milk giant Murray Goulburn to return money to dairy farmers during talks with him and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday.
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The government announced an assistance package for dairy farmers during the federal election campaign, but it was revealed this week only one concessional loan has been approved as part of the package.
Retrospective price cuts by Murray Goulburn have led to demands for milk producers to pay thousands back to the co-operative, while on Monday ABC TV revealed emails to senior executives showing Murray Goulburn was making significant losses before it decided to downgrade milk prices.
Mr Joyce said the government would require transparency from the company but denied he would act as "solicitor or the policeman".
"We have to make sure that we do everything we can to assist those in the industry," the Nationals leader said.
"Whether we like it or not Murray Goulburn is a very large section of the dairy industry.
"We don't want the co-operative to fall over. We do want justice, we do want to make sure these producers continue on."
Mr Joyce defended the meeting, promised during the election campaign, amid investigations by by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
"If there is further that we need to do then that's what we'll obviously discuss," the Deputy Prime Minister told ABC radio.
"We have to do our very best to try and assist the people in the industry down there.
"It would probably be remiss of us if we didn't actually call them in and say 'look what is going on? How did you get yourself into this position and whilst we're here what are your suggestions about what you're going to do and what the government can do."
He said the meeting was designed to assist the co-operative's members, not the board of management.
"People have made a decision based on the representations of that company and that has caused immense pain.
"The price being low is hard enough but that fact that you are repaying a loan makes it nearly impossible ... you are producing at a loss and hoping you can see your way through that position."
Mr Joyce said the company should have disclosed its knowledge of pressures set to drive down milk prices earlier.
Applications for a further 49 assistance loans from the government are under way.
