Peter Dutton downplaying reports poor showing at Aston by-election could prove fatal

With a by-election looming, Peter Dutton has dismissed reports about the future of his Liberal leadership as “Canberra gossip”.

Peter Dutton is facing a critical test of his leadership in the Aston by-election but the opposition leader is playing down suggestions the poll could prove fatal.

Saturday’s poll, prompted by the resignation of former Liberal cabinet minister Alan Tudge, is the first contest since the 2022 federal election.

Mr Dutton said he thought the Liberal candidate, barrister and former Melbourne City councillor Roshena Campbell, would be victorious but admitted it would be close.

“I think it is right, but we will get there,” he told Nine. “It is a tight race, as by-elections always are.”

The unpopularity of Scott Morrison, paired with the controversy surrounding Alan Tudge, contributed to a 7.3 per cent two party swing against the Liberals in Aston last May.

Aston Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell is fighting to retain the blue-ribbon Liberal seat. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

It left the once safe blue-ribbon seat with only a 2.8 per cent margin.

When asked whether a poor showing would prove his leadership was terminal, Mr Dutton took a page out of the Morrison playbook, labelling it as “Canberra gossip”.

“I am concentrating on making sure Roshena Campbell is sitting in parliament next week because the seat of Aston deserves a very strong local member and that is what this by-election is about,” he told reporters later at a doorstop.

Speaking with ABC’s Radio National, Liberal senate leader Simon Birmingham also dismissed reports his party could be seeking a switch up between Mr Dutton and his deputy, Sussan Ley.

Mr Dutton is facing reports some of his colleagues are considering a leadership switch up. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I don’t think that’s the case,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s particularly helpful to try to project forward. Roshena has worked very hard through this by-election campaign. Peter has been, and I believe will be again, in Aston before people vote, working with her campaigning with her.”

It comes after leaked Labor polling to Sky News showed in Aston while Mr Dutton was a drag on the vote, the Liberals remained in poll position.

The Prime Minister conceded it would be difficult for his candidate to win on Saturday. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conceded it would be “very difficult” for candidate Mary Doyle to topple the Liberals but put the opposition on notice.

“No government has won a seat of the opposition in more than a century ... So it would be astonishing, if the opposition didn't get a vote, two party preferred, with the six in front, frankly,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Mr Albanese had told the party room earlier this week anything less than a five per cent swing against Labor would be a failure for Mr Dutton.

He also didn’t miss the opportunity to sink the boot in to his opposition, implying Ms Campbell didn’t care which seat she represented: “(Ms Doyle’s) someone who didn’t shop around for a seat.”

The result of the by-election will have no effect on the make-up of the house of representatives.

But after a bruising defeat in New South Wales left Tasmania as the only blue state, the Liberals will be looking to the results for a morale boost.

Originally published as Peter Dutton downplaying reports poor showing at Aston by-election could prove fatal