Ms Ley will face the biggest field of challengers since 2004 in the countdown to the August 21 poll when seven other candidates confirmed their intention to stand before yesterday’s noon deadline.

Last-minute candidates included Conargo farmer James Clancy and the Secular Party of Australia’s Mathew Crothers, who drew the top spot on the ballot paper from Greens hopeful, Peter Carruthers.

“It will be a good campaign, a clean campaign and I am sure we will all do the best we can,” said Ms Ley, who drew four on the ballot paper.

“(Marginal electorates) are a common war cry from independents, but remember you achieve most from within the policy tent of government and this electorate has been ignored by Labor.

“It never was under the Coalition and if we get back into government I can make real, effective change to everybody’s lives and with Tony Abbott as prime minister we will see that change.”

Mr Clancy recently resigned his membership of the National Party to stand as an independent in Farrer.

“Unfortunately at the moment there is a big divide between the country areas and city areas,” he said.

Mr Crothers is also from the Deniliquin area with his party believing in separating politics from religion.

Louise Burge is another independent candidate from Deniliquin and said people in rural areas were hurting and she was best qualified to help.

“There is nobody with a vision for regional and remote Australia and I feel passionate about the communities in which we live,” she said.

Yerong Creek farmer James Male, who drew last position on the ballot paper, also called for Farrer to become marginal.

“It’s crucial we get a voice out there and put the wind up the major parties and let them know country people aren’t getting fully represented like we should,” he said.

The Labor Party’s Christian Emmery drew fifth place on the ballot paper.