Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he does not want struggling bushfire affected communities to "feel forgotten" during the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mr Albanese joined a roundtable with businesses affected by recent bushfires in Bega on Tuesday alongside Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly, to discuss what he described as a "double whammy" of economic effects from both the recent bushfire crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I don't want the bushfire areas to be forgotten in that," Mr Albanese said.
"This community needs real dollars in pockets right now to stimulate the economy."
Mr Albanese, who was in the region during the bushfire crisis and flew in on a half empty Regional Express flight, said he has been concerned about "complacency" within the government over the speed of the rollout of financial help after the bushfires.
"Bushfire communities were doing it tough before coronavirus. Now they're being hit all over again. But the recovery has been too slow and assistance hasn't gotten where it's needed most," Mr Albanese Tweeted on Tuesday.
Mr Albanese said government grants should be made a priority over loans as he understands "people are justifiably reluctant to take on more debt".
"The sooner you act, the more effective it is," he said.
"These communities are really hurting. I don't think the money is flowing quick enough."
In the wake of the pandemic, the federal government has announced a $17.6 billion stimulus package for businesses, with more to be considered by an an economic review committee in the following days.
"All the actions we are putting in place are based on advice from Australia's leading medical experts and are designed to protect Australia," the prime minister's office said on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the state government announced a $700 million increase in health funding alongside a $2.3 billion stimulus package.
"We need to make sure people who are low income workers are going to benefit as well," Mr Albanese said.
Bega Valley Shire mayor Kristy McBain told Mr Albanese she feels the region has "been forgotten and left behind" by the government, with businesses going into debt to keep their doors open.
"We've been asking for support for weeks now, but on top of that we [Australia] have the coronavirus, and that package has come quickly," she said.
"Unless there is ongoing and continuous support you are going to see communities implode."
She said she was focused on lobbying for the region's infrastructure needs to keep current businesses afloat, as well as attracting new businesses to the region.
"The pressure needs to be kept up on government," she said.
"Right now this has to be an opportunity for us, we can't see it as a a disaster."
Rob White, owner of Tathra Beach House Apartments and Tathra Chamber of Commerce committee member, said any economic stimulus should be directed towards increasing domestic tourism.
"This roundtable has shown me parties on both sides of politics are working on a solution, but after all of this it will still be cheaper for someone to take a three-day cruise to Eden than eat and stay in regional areas," he said.
While February saw business increase after January's mass exodus of tourists, Mr White said March has been ravaged by cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other businesses spoke of constant "crisis conversations" as they attempt to prevent scaling back staff numbers.
Mr Albanese agreed further financial help for the tourism industry is needed, and was critical of any reallocation of bushfire relief towards the COVID-19 situation. He also supports the bailing out of major airlines, and the scrapping of taxes and charges on regional flights to attract more domestic travellers to the region.
He said projects like the construction of a dual carriage way along the Princes Highway will not only help stimulate the economy but also increase the safety of residents and tourists who struggled to evacuate quickly during the bushfire emergency.
On a day which saw Liberal senator Andrew Bragg test positive for the virus after attending a wedding eleven days ago, Mr Albanese said "unity" is the best national policy moving forward.
"Everyone is taking this issue seriously, and I've said very clearly what I seek is bipartisanship as much as possible on all of these issues, because it's what people are looking for," he said.
"People aren't looking for politics, people are looking for practical responses. We'll be constructive."
