Eden-Monaro Liberal byelection candidate Fiona Kotvojs says her campaign will be "about rebuilding" in Snowy Valleys after the bushfires and coronavirus.
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"It's been a really tough six months for communities across the electorate," she said.
"In this area, we have had the bushfires, COVID-19 and some parts have had floods as well and some parts are still in drought.
"That's been a heavy hit on people so I have been talking to people in Tumut, in Batlow, in Talbingo and I'm going to Tumbarumba and it's all about listening to what their challenges are; how you get your orchard back up and running, how you get your farm or your business up and running."
She said she knew what disaster was like as her farm was hit by bushfires.
"We lost fences, we lost pasture; we stayed and defended and we managed to save our home and the buildings but it is really tough, it's slow," she said.
"There has been a lot of support for farmer in terms of the $75,000 grants from the federal government, there are various grants from the state government and other support as well.
"There is never as much support as we would like and it is never as fast as we would like but one of the key issues for me is working with the federal, state and local councils to integrate that support so it is better planned and delivered.
"A lot of the issues in terms of delivery has been lack of integration across those levels."
During an interview with The Daily Advertiser in Tumut this week, Dr Kotvojs' linked her campaign policies to the fact that, if she wins, she will immediately take a seat with the government.
"Being part of the government means that I will advocate for those changes that are needed to be done and I will advocate for the people of this area and across this electorate and I will ensure we deliver in these areas," she said.
The 56-year-old former teacher, environmental specialist, small business owner, farmer, works in international aid and development and holds a doctorate in education.
"I was born in Bega and I grew up on a farm, which I have now moved back to, down at a place called Dignams Creek near Cobargo" she said.
Dr Kotvojs has two adult children, two grandchildren and "cast of nieces and godchildren in my life".
"I'm very much part of our local community. I have been in with the Rural Fire Service for the past 15 years, our local church, I volunteer in the two of the primary schools where I live," she said.
"I'm on the Anglican Church Property Trust, which works across the electorate and I'm a director with Oxfam. I was a Lifeline counsellor in the past and also with the Army Reserve.
"My community shaped who I am and because of that, it's the reason for my involvement and why I am standing."
Dr Kotvojs said she entered politics "so we can have jobs for our young people, so that they don't have to go away from the community, so they can stay".
"Because when they leave, we lose the lifeblood of our communities, and that needs to change," she said.
"That's why I'm running; being able to deliver on that is critical."
The byelection was triggered in late April by Labor MP Mike Kelly announcing he would resign for health reasons, with Snowy Valleys voters heading back to the polls on July 4.
Enrolling to vote or changing enrolment details will close on June 4 at 8pm and nomination for candidates will close on June 9 at midday.
Dr Kotvojs ran against Mr Kelly in the last year's federal election, losing to him by a margin of less than one per cent on the two-party preferred vote count.
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Dr Kotvojs said she was "committed to the timber industry" and her previous campaign showed her support for the major source of employment in Snowy Valleys, which suffered significant bushfire damage.
"Last year I fought during the campaign for the forestry hub here in Tumut, and we got it," she said.
Dr Kotvojs said once the industry moves past its current phase of salvaging what timber it can, she would need to work with the industry on "clever solutions" to overcome the lengthy growing period for new plantations.
"Some of that might mean looking at bringing timber from outside our area, maybe from Victoria, because there are areas in Victoria where there is still quite a lot of timber that is not being used."
The federal federal bushfire royal commission held a forum in Tumbarumba in March in which timber industry representatives called for greater hazard reduction burns.
NSW independent Wagga MP Joe McGirr has also called for inquiries into the role of climate change in bushfire risk and severity.
Dr Kotvojs said said she was "really pleased that the royal commission has a got a broad term of reference that includes climate change".
"It is going to really important to look at all the reasons for the bushfires and there will be different factors in different places," she said.
"Dunns Creek Road, for example, had different causal factors to the one at Badja that came through our place.
"What is going to be critical is looking at all of those factors and making sure we take an integrated approach that addresses all of of the issues, not just one of them.
"Where I live, I know that the areas that had hazard reduction in the past, the fire came through with far less intensity."