Coalition Political Fortunes Optimistic in Recent Victorian By-Election
- Labor managed to retain the Victorian seat of Dunkley despite a swing favoring the Liberal Party.
- Opposition frontbenchers are confident in their ability to transform a once safe Labor stronghold into a marginal electorate.
- Both Labor and the Coalition are gearing up their campaigns for the upcoming federal election, as the recent by-election results will significantly influence their strategies.
Despite falling short in a recent Victorian by-election, the federal opposition remains optimistic about its chances of securing Labor seats in the next election.
Following the unfortunate passing of incumbent Labor MP Peta Murphy last year, voters in the outer-suburban, coastal electorate of Dunkley headed back to the polls.
Jodie Belyea, Murphy’s successor, successfully defended the seat against a 4% swing towards the Liberal Party.
Having transformed Dunkley into a safe Labor seat with a 6.3% margin after winning it from the Coalition in 2019, Murphy’s efforts were commendable.
The swing towards the Coalition aligns with the average by-election swing against governments seen in recent decades.
While Labor’s primary vote remained steady, increasing by nearly 1%, the Liberal Party experienced a significant surge of almost 7%. Meanwhile, the Greens’ primary vote decreased by 4%, with One Nation and United Australia opting not to participate.
Senator Jane Hume, representing Victoria and serving as the shadow finance spokeswoman, expressed her delight over the outcome of the recent by-election, emphasizing the Liberal Party’s success in converting a once secure Labor seat into a marginal one.
“The Liberals are certainly buoyed by this morning’s results,” Hume remarked.
“Previously considered a safe seat with a 6.3% margin, Dunkley is now undeniably a marginal electorate,” she added.
“In fact, it currently stands as one of the most closely contested seats in Victoria.”
Peter Dutton joined forces with Nathan Conroy in the lead-up to the by-election, as reported by ABC News. Both Liberal and Labor insiders were managing their expectations before the by-election. The government emphasized its revised stage 3 tax cuts, promising a tax cut for all workers starting in July. Meanwhile, the Coalition’s campaign centered around living costs, immigration policies, and criticizing Labor’s proposed changes to fuel efficiency standards.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare expressed surprise at the increase in Labor’s primary vote since the previous election. He mentioned to Sky News that the primary vote exceeded his expectations. Reflecting on the late Peta’s popularity in Dunkley, Clare noted that Jodie received more votes than Peta did 18 months ago, attributing it to Jodie and her team’s hard work.
Anthony Albanese partnered with Jodie Belyea during the by-election, as captured in an AAP Image by Morgan Hancock. The Liberal Party faced losses in Victoria during the last election, now holding only six out of the state’s 39 seats. Victorian Liberal Dan Tehan, the shadow immigration minister, stressed the importance of winning seats in Victoria in the upcoming election.
Tehan emphasized the need to secure seats in Dunkley, McEwen, and Aston, stating that the party has a strong chance in these areas. Aston, previously a safe Liberal seat, was lost to Labor in a by-election the previous year. The Coalition’s political fortunes remain optimistic as they strategize for the upcoming elections.
Coalition Political Fortunes: Optimistic Related Stories
Coalition political fortunes look bright in Melbourne’s Dunkley by-election as Jodie Belyea secures victory
In the recent by-election held in the Melbourne electorate of Dunkley, Jodie Belyea emerged victorious, signaling a positive outlook for the Coalition’s political standing.
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