The winding Kings Highway, which links Canberra to the NSW south coast, is showing signs of life and hope in the winter after a horror summer.

But for communities across large parts of the federal electorate of Eden-Monaro, the economic regrowth hasn't been as quick.

The July 4 by-election in the seat comes after drought, bushfire and coronavirus combined to put immense pressure on lives.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has campaigned alongside candidate Kristy McBain on Wednesday, touring some of the hardest hit areas.

Cattle farmers Craig and Tamara Corby took refuge in their Cobargo home with their extended family as the fire tore through.

"We just sat here and watched Cobargo go alight. We could hear the gas bottles explode," Mrs Corby tells Mr Albanese and Ms McBain.

Mr Corby's parents, brother, sister, two aunts and grandfather all lost their houses in the devastating blaze, which claimed their bull inventory and two years worth of farm income.

The Corbys' neighbour is even worse off.

Century-old cattle bloodlines were destroyed and with them, his retirement savings.

"He's just been wiped out and he can't even restock that land," Mrs Corby says.

Sheep and beef farmers like the Corbys are questioning why $200,000 state government grants for dairy exclude livestock producers.

The couple are grappling with the complexity of federal and state grants programs as they juggle their business and two young children.

Mr Albanese wants communities to fire a protest shot at the coalition on bushfire relief.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison argues Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs will be best placed to deliver support from within the government.

Mr Morrison received a savage reception from Cobargo locals seething with raw anger in the days after the fire.

But that hostility is not a blanket representation of Eden-Monaro, a seat Ms Kotvojs almost snared from popular Labor incumbent Mike Kelly at last year's election.

The overlapping state seats are both conservative-held.

And the Morrison government is being praised for Australia's remarkable health performance during a global pandemic.

Whether lingering hostility from the hellish summer is doused by the coronavirus crisis remains key to this race.

The basics of politics will still apply but Mrs Corby noticed the different face of campaigning in 2020.

"No kissing or holding babies."

Australian Associated Press