Lose Aston, and road back is even longer for the Libs
The stakes are not as high as they might have been in 2001, but for the purposes of lifting morale and seeding hope in the Liberal Party, a win is critical.
The federal Victorian seat of Aston holds a special place in contemporary Liberal Party folklore.
In July 2001, four months before Peter Dutton entered parliament, John Howard’s government held Aston in a byelection against all odds. The victory created a momentum swing that heralded an equally unlikely general election win in November that year.
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Phillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence. Connect with Phillip on Facebook and Twitter. Email Phillip at pcoorey@afr.com
