Dunkley voters set to head to polls for March 2 by-election

The Prime Minister is set to face a crucial electoral test when voters in Dunkley cast their ballots at the upcoming by-election.

Voters in the Victorian seat of Dunkley will head to polls on March 2 in a crucial electoral test for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

On Friday, the speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick announced the date for the by-election, with an enrolment deadline of February 5 for constituents to be eligible to vote.

The seat, on the Mornington Peninsula, was vacated after the passing of former Labor member Peta Murphy who died in early December, aged 50.

Mr Albanese’s pick, community leader and school teacher Jodie Beylea, will face off against three-time Frankston City Council Mayor Nathan Conroy, who is the Liberal party’s candidate.

School teacher and community leader Jodie Beylea has been announced as Labor’s candidate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Announcing Ms Beylea, who was endorsed by the party’s national executive rather than a local preselection of ALP members, Mr Albanese said healthcare would be a “major theme” of the campaign.

The government has opened an urgent care clinic in the electorate, contributed funding to the Frankston Hospital upgrade, and introduced measures to incentivise bulk billing at GP clinics.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister paid his second visit to the seat.

Frankston mayor: Nathan Conroy in mayoral chains has been nominated as Victoria's hottest pollie. Picture: Frankston City Council

Meanwhile, Liberal strategists are hoping the contest is a referendum on the Albanese government’s track record on the cost of living.

“This is an opportunity for people in Dunkley, for Victorians, to send a very clear message to the Prime Minister that he’s not doing the right thing when it comes to their family budgets,” Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said last Sunday.

At the 2022 election, Labor held the seat with a 6.3 per cent margin, however much of this support is derived from Ms Murphy’s personal popularity, rather than Labor’s, as support for the party in the Senate in the area is lower.