Labor has seen off a swing to the Liberal Party to comfortably hold the Victorian seat of Dunkley in Saturday’s byelection, but has vowed to heed any messages sent by voters, especially on the cost of living.

In a result consistent with what Liberal leader Peter Dutton had publicly predicted, Labor’s Jodie Belyea was on track to hold the seat after Liberal challenger Nathan Conroy managed to secure a two-party preferred swing of 3.7 per cent.