Aston byelection: Labor achieves once-in-a-century victory capturing Liberal heartland seat

The Albanese government has achieved a once-in-100-year victory in a byelection, capturing the Liberal heartland seat of Aston in eastern Melbourne.

Although the result may narrow in later counting including postal votes, at about 8:30pm Campbell, whose primary vote sat below 40%, called Doyle to concede. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, declared victory shortly after.

The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said that not since the 1920 Kalgoorlie byelection had a sitting government won a seat off the opposition at a byelection.

Doyle, who contested the 2022 election against Tudge, achieving a 7.8% swing in her favour at that poll, benefited from higher name recognition while the Liberals claimed Campbell struggled due to the short six-week campaign.

Despite high inflation and 10 consecutive interest rate rises, the Liberal campaign failed to persuade voters to blame the Albanese government for the cost of living.

Labor also credited its victory to a strong showing among Chinese Australian voters, in an electorate with 14% of voters of Chinese descent.

Wolahan noted he had started a group for metropolitan MPs, inviting country and regional MPs to help the conservative side of politics win back inner-city seats.

The Liberals now hold just two seats in Melbourne, Menzies and the neighbouring seat of Deakin. The party also holds two peri-urban seats to its east, La Trobe and Casey.