Federal by-election for Dunkley set for March 2

Speaker Milton Dick has announced the federal by-election for the seat, made vacant by the death of Labor MP Peta Murphy.

The federal by-election for the Victorian seat of Dunkley has been called for March 2, following a ramp up in campaigning that saw Anthony Albanese fly into Melbourne twice in a week.

Speaker Milton Dick announced the date on Friday morning and said local constituents had until February 5 to enrol to vote.

The by-election was triggered by the death of beloved Dunkley MP Peta Murphy, who died in December after a long public battle with breast cancer.

The Liberal Party have held Dunkley nine times out of the past 14 elections, however a redistribution in 2019 and respect for Murphy helped increase her margin up to 6.27 per cent in the 2022 election.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese meets members of the Frankston Bowls Club in Frankston, after delivering a press conference with Labor candidate for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

The Prime Minister announced Jodie Belyea as Labor’s candidate last week during a visit to Frankston.

He revealed that it was Murphy who reached out to recruit the community leader and mother before death.

“No two people are the same, they do remind me of each other in that they are both fighters, they’re both strong advocates,” Mr Albanese said.

He said he believes that his new candidate will build on Murphy’s “extraordinary legacy”.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives @MiltonDickMP has announced the details for the issuing of the writ for the electoral division of Dunkley. The date of polling will be Saturday, 2 March 2024. pic.twitter.com/D6tKbMMHju

— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) January 18, 2024

Mr Albanese and Ms Belyea appeared alongside each other again on Thursday to visit an urgent care clinic in Frankston to spruik the government’s health policy.

Popular Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy will also contest the by-election, after the Liberal Party preselected the 31-year-old to go up against Ms Belyea.

The councillor was re-elected for a third year in a row as mayor of Frankston City Council.

Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy has won Liberal preselection for the Victorian seat.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last Sunday announced Mr Conroy as his party’s candidate and called him a “local champion”.

“This is an opportunity for the people of Dunkley, 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,” Mr Dutton said.