Liberals target cost of living in Aston for a voter backlash

The Liberal Party is facing a knife-edge result in the Aston by-election, hoping that cost-of-living concerns will harm Labor.

Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell on Thursday. Picture: Aaron Francis

The Liberal Party is relying on an anti-government backlash over the rising cost of living to edge it over the line in the Aston by-election, amid internal predictions of a knife-edge result.

With a margin of just 2.8 per cent, the party is being inundated with concerns from voters about the high interest rates and soaring energy and food bills. Its candidate, Roshena Campbell, said feedback at pre-poll stations was that cost of living was a core issue. “They were promised by Labor lower interest rates, cheaper groceries, lower energy prices,” she said.

“Now everything’s gone up. We’re hearing they’re making very difficult decisions about how to pay for the next school excursion.

“Some of them are saying how are we going to fill the kids’ next lunch boxes.”

Ms Campbell, a barrister and mother or three, said food relief outlets were also reporting heavy demand amid one of the worst cost-of-living crises in the past 30 years.

Labor’s candidate, breast cancer survivor Mary Doyle, is fighting the by-election on cheaper childcare, cutting the cost of prescription medication and delivering fee-free TAFE places. She did not respond to The Australian.

The Liberal Party is anxious about the potential for a political upset in the by-election, caused by the departure of former Morrison minister Alan Tudge.

Aston is an outer eastern Melbourne electorate that borders the Dandenong Ranges and more than 40 per cent of its residents have mortgages, Ms Campbell said.

Leaked Labor polling reported by Sky News Australia showed Peter Dutton with a net negative rating in Aston.

The polling, reportedly conducted between March 12 and 14, suggested Labor was trailing the Coalition 48 per cent to 52 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.

The polling found only 21 per cent of people had a favourable view of Mr Dutton, with 50 per cent unfavourable.

Labor wants to frame the by-election result, if the Liberals underperform, around Mr Dutton’s leadership.