The campaign for the federal by-election in Farrer has intensified ahead of Saturday’s polling day, with major party, independent and minor party candidates facing growing scrutiny over policy positions and campaign messaging. The electorate, previously represented for 25 years by Sussan Ley, stretches across much of southern and western New South Wales, including Albury and Griffith. Key issues raised during the campaign include Murray-Darling Basin water management, housing affordability, health services, fuel and fertiliser costs, and local government funding. Liberal candidate Raissa Butkowski, Nationals candidate Brad Robertson, One Nation candidate David Farley and independent Michelle Milthorpe have all faced questions over policy consistency, migration, water buybacks and political affiliations as voters prepare to decide one of the state’s most closely watched regional contests.