Kim Beazley recalls the significance of the federal byelection for the Melbourne seat of Aston in 2001 and suggests it could have a similar impact on Peter Dutton.
Already a subscriber?Kim Beazley remembers all too well the federal byelection for the Melbourne seat of Aston in 2001. “That was it for me,” recalled the former Labor leader, who was in Canberra this week for a flying visit. “And it might be it for Dutton, too.” Like today’s Dunkley byelection, being held because of the death late last year of Labor MP Peta Murphy, the Aston poll, which took place on July 14, 2001, was triggered by the death of the local Liberal MP Peter Nugent.
At the time, John Howard’s embattled Coalition government was in a world of pain in the polls and the next federal election was due by the end of the year. Thus, the byelection for an outer suburban middle-class seat, which the government held by a slender margin of 4.2 per cent, quickly assumed the status of an all-important bellwether. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese campaigning with Labor candidate Jodie Belyea in Carrum Downs on Friday.Against the weight of expectation, Howard endured a swing of 3.7 per cent but held on. The next day, it wasn’t the size of the swing that mattered but who wo
Byelection Melbourne Aston Peter Dutton Labor Liberal Swing Bellwether
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