CANDIDATES – start your campaigns.

It seemed appropriate that Prime Minister Scott Morrison chose the day of the Melbourne Grand Prix to visit the governor–general and request a May 21 federal election.

Like the grand prix, we have been through a lengthy qualifying period with various parties doing their best to test out policies and statements to ensure their campaign machines are firing on all cylinders.

At this stage we have a field of eight runners with Benalla's Beth Stevens the latest to announce her intention to stand representing Pauline Hansen's One Nation Party.

She joins incumbent Helen Haines (Independent), Nadia David (Labor), Benjamin Gilbert (Greens), Ross Lyman (Liberal), Elizabeth Fisher (Nationals), Stephen Williams (United Australia Party) and Julian Fidge (Liberal Democrats) who have all declared their intention to contest Indi.

At the 2019 election there were seven candidates; One Nation did not contest it, while Derryn Hinch's Justice Party have yet to nominate a candidate this time around.

The Liberals' Steven Martin won the first preference with 35.09 per cent of the votes just ahead of Helen Haines in her first election on 32.35 per cent but after preferences were distributed Dr Haines was declared the winner with 51.39 per cent ahead of Mr Martin on 48.61 per cent.

Nationally, if the Liberal–National coalition can retain a net 76 seats it can retain power.

A net loss of just one seat (requiring a swing of less than half a per cent) puts it into minority and will require negotiations with the crossbench for minority government.

Labor holds 68 seats but with the new seat of Hawke starts the election with a notional 69 seats.

It needs 76 seats for a majority, a net gain of seven.

But if the Liberal–National coalition loses four seats to Labor, the opposition will hold 73 seats to 72 coalition and will also be able to negotiate with the crossbench on forming a minority government as it did in 2010.

Dr Haines welcomed the announcement.

"We're on," she said.

"I guess there has been speculation for months but it had to be called today."

Dr Haines didn't think the earlier campaigning would disaffect many voters.

"I think there are those who don't switch on until it's called and some not even until just before they vote," she said.

"It's an incredibly important election and everyone's vote will count.

"People need to think carefully about their choice and react accordingly."

Sam Birrell and Steve Brooks representing those parties respectively.

The Nicholls electorate has also seen many candidates announced.

Sam Birrell has been confirmed as the Nationals candidate while Steve Brooks is running for the Liberal Party.

Former Greater Shepparton City councillor Rob Priestly will be running as an independent, Dr Rob Peterson is the candidate for the United Australia Party and Ricki–Lee Tyrell is the One Nation candidate.

As of yet, there are no candidates confirmed for Labor or The Greens in Nicholls.