The Liberal Party has secured first place on the ballot paper for the key seat of Eden-Monaro, centred on Queanbeyan.
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Economist Peter Hendy, a former opposition aide, is trying to wrest the bellwether seat from Labor's Mike Kelly, the Minister for Defence Materiel.
Dr Kelly was given third place in the random draw for the ballot, with the Stable Population Party's candidate Martin Tye second.
Cooma mayor Dean Lynch has fourth spot, representing the Palmer United Party, followed by the Greens Catherine Moore.
Eden-Monaro is considered a litmus test for the election outcome because, since 1972, the electorate has always been won by the party that forms government.
In the safe Coalition seat of Hume, which includes Goulburn, first place on the ballot paper has been won by Lindsay Cosgrove, the candidate for the conservative Citizens Electoral Council.
Katter's Australian Party has been given second spot, with an independent third and Labor's Michael Pilbrow fourth. Fifth spot is allocated to the favourite to win the seat, Liberal candidate Angus Taylor.
