Yet another long-time MP will face a fierce independent challenge at the next federal election, with the seat of deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley the latest to come under pressure.

Ley, who has held the western NSW seat for more than two decades, will have to defend Farrer from independent Michelle Milthorpe who has been endorsed by the Voices of Farrer movement.

Milthorpe, an educator and mum of three, said she would work hard to fight for what the community needs.

“I want to be a genuine representative of the people, someone who reflects the values of the electorate, stands up for regional communities and delivers outcomes for them,” she said.

“When the people of Farrer look at me, I hope they see parts of themselves reflected back in my actions, words and decision-making.”

She rose to national prominence through her role in securing $64.3 million of funding for the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Scheme to be extended throughout regional NSW.

Independent

Milthorpe, who has lived in the electorate for more than 20 years with her husband and three daughters, said she had never planned to become a politician.

“I’ve never considered myself a politician. However, I felt there was a need for a genuine, present and reliable representative,” she said.

“I want the people of Farrer to feel that I represent their values, recognise their issues and come to trust in my determination to find solutions”.

Ley has held the seat since 2001 and won by a margin of more than 30 per cent in the 2022 election, despite a swing against her.

Ley has been re-elected five times in Farrer, making Milthorpe’s a long-shot community campaign. Photo: AAP

It was revealed in August that she has been ejected from Parliament 11 times since the 2022 election, but Ley defended her and the Liberal Party’s record in Parliament as “passion”.

Ley became deputy opposition leader following the Morrison government’s 2022 election defeat. She replaced Josh Frydenberg, who lost his seat to the Voices of Kooyong-backed Monique Ryan.

Milthorpe said the power of community independents was that they weren’t concerned with “party politics”.

“As an independent member, the only people that I am accountable to are my constituents,” she said.

“I am not obliged to be aligned to other independents, nor will I be tied to political parties, because my representation is about the people in the electorate that I live in.”

A BIG night last night as we ramp up ahead of the next election. Here I stand with this beautiful crew, full of energy, focus and intent to change Australian politics. Independence is the difference. https://t.co/nM35Kq0pO2 sign up to volunteer 🩵 pic.twitter.com/WRFm8sfO81

— Zoe Daniel MP (she/her) (@zdaniel) September 19, 2024

Voices of

The ‘teal independent’ movement is commonly associated with inner-city Melbourne and Sydney seats after the success of community campaigns to elect Zoe Daniel, Allegra Spender, Ryan, Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps.

Farrer borders the regional seat of Indi, where the first Voices campaign powered Cathy McGowan, and her successor Helen Haines, to victory.

Members of the original Voices group that elected McGowan were there when Milthorpe announced her candidacy on Tuesday.

Ley’s colleagues Pat Conaghan, Paul Fletcher and Dan Tehan also face community-independent challenges from Caz Heise in Cowper, Nicolette Boele in Bradfield and Alex Dyson in Wannon, respectively.

It will be a rematch from the 2022 election for all three, while every community independent MP, bar Kylea Tink in the abolished seat of North Sydney, has signalled that they plan to recontest their seat.