Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has had a crack at Barnaby Joyce for his handling of disaster relief funds, telling him to stop his political point scoring.
The deputy prime minister announced on Thursday two NSW towns that bore the brunt of flooding caused by Cyclone Debbie will now have access to federal disaster relief funds.
He plans to do the same for Queensland flood victims, once the Labor state government fixed its "completely insufficient" application.
Mr Shorten said Mr Joyce should stop worrying about application forms.
"Enough talk, enough red tape, enough political point scoring, let's just unlock these modest grants that provide farmers and small business with some desperately needed cash flow," he told reporters in flood-effected Murwillumbah, NSW.
"Open the window and have a look outside."
Residents of Lismore and Tweed Shire in northern NSW will be eligible for grants of up to $15,000 under so-called category C funding.
"This is all part and parcel of us trying to turn around the economic fortunes after Cyclone Debbie," Mr Joyce said.
Category C natural disaster assistance must be requested by the states and agreed to by the prime minister.
It includes money for clean-ups and recovery grants for small business and farmers.
Lismore and Tweed Shire already have access to funds to alleviate personal hardship and get public infrastructure up and running.
