Worrying Victorian by-election results won't change Labor's focus

Labor will stick to its guns as the federal election looms, even after a former heartland delivered a significant swing against the incumbent party.

Though the Victorian state by-election vote count is ongoing, as of early on Sunday there was a 10 per cent swing against Labor at the west Melbourne electorate of Werribee.

With a national election due to be held by May 17, the results could be a harbinger of doom for Labor.

The party will examine the results, but cabinet minister Katy Gallagher said the government will stick to its message.

“I don’t think it changes anything for us, federally,” she told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.

“We’re focused on the cost of living and making sure we’re building a better future for Australia.”

The city’s inner-east seat of Prahran - which also held a by-election on Saturday - delivered a 14 per cent swing against the Greens in the two-candidate preferred result, with the Liberals leading at 52 per cent of the two-candidate preferred and Labor opting not to run a candidate.

Coalition politicians have celebrated both outcomes but shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash was careful not to over-extrapolate.

“It was a strong result for the Liberal Party in Victoria, but it still was two state by-elections,” she told Sky News.

While Werribee voters turned against Labor, the coalition was not necessarily their top choice.

The first preference count showed a 17 per cent swing against Labor candidate John Lister, but Liberal nominee Steve Murphy only experienced a four per cent swing in his favour and sits about 150 votes ahead, with the two major parties taking 28.7 and 29 per cent of the vote respectively.

Independent Paul Hopper received almost 15 per cent of first preferences after benefiting from a nine per cent swing, as minor parties made gains.

But Nationals leader David Littleproud insisted the results should worry Labor.

“When there’s a Melbourne Cup field, there’s a lot of choice there, but ultimately it comes down to two.”

The federal government will continue to court voters after announcing a $573 million package to lower costs and improve health care for women.

Senator Gallagher says commitments like this show the difference between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

“The contrast between what we are doing under Prime Minister Albanese’s leadership and what Peter Dutton is threatening to do with cuts, will make a real choice for people at the election,” she said.

But Senator Cash says the election is about leadership.

“Peter Dutton - you may not like him - but the decision at the next election is not about liking a particular person,” she said.

“The decision you need to make at the next election is, ‘do I want a strong leader who backs me?’. And that’s Peter Dutton.”