‘Long odds’: Albo claims underdog status ahead of Fadden campaign launch

Labor might have “low expectations” for the upcoming Fadden by-election, but it won’t stop the PM from stopping into the Glitter Strip.

PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese will make his first visit to Fadden since the by-election was called, as he admits it is “long odds” for a Labor victory in the safe LNP seat.

Mr Albanese announced he will launch the campaign of Labor candidate Letitia Del Fabbro on Tuesday night for the July 15 by-election.

Labor has only held the seat for one year, in 1984, since the seat’s creation in 1977.

Mr Albanese said there were “very, very long odds” for Labor in Fadden.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Seb Haggett

“It’s not an area that we’ve held, it’s an area that’s always been in a very safe LNP territory. But we believe in (Labor’s candidate) Letitia Del Fabbro,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“I’ll be launching her campaign on Tuesday night. And she’ll be having a crack, and we’ll be out there putting forward a Labor candidate.

“We think that the resignation of (former Fadden MP) Stuart Robert without even having the courtesy of attending the parliament to explain why it is that he’s resigning under such a cloud.

“People will think why is it that this money is having to be expended on this by-election with someone who just has made that resignation.”

Labor candidate for Fadden Letitia Del Fabbro. Picture: Keith Woods.

Labor’s election advertising has been focusing on Mr Robert, targeting his role in the Robodebt scandal and his ties to lobbyists, rather than LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell.

Neither side is expected to spend considerable resources into the by-election, which the LNP holds the seat by 10.6 per cent, with both sides acknowledging that it is all but certain to remain in the Coalition’s hands.

There was a 6.4 per cent swing to Labor in the Aston by-election in April, the first time in about 100 years a government won a by-election, which was a blow to Mr Dutton’s leadership.

But, Labor is playing down the chances of a swing in its direction at this by-election.

Insiders have said it was contesting the “unwinnable” seat to “fly the flag” and use it as an opportunity to build its presence in southeast Queensland.