Anthony Albanese picks up the phone to Dominic Perrottet following bruising election loss

The Prime Minister has revealed why he called Dominic Perrottet after his bruising NSW state election loss.

Anthony Albanese has revealed what he said to Dominic Perrottet after the Liberals were turfed from power at Saturday’s NSW state election.

The Prime Minister celebrated the election of newly installed premier Chris Minns with his caucus colleagues on Tuesday morning during a party room meeting.

But he told his troops he picked up the phone to send his well wishes to Mr Perrottet, who stepped aside as Liberal leader in his emotional concession speech.

Dominic Perrottet and Anthony Albanese spoke following the election loss. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

“(Mr Albanese) thanked him for their constructive working relationship, which he said was in contrast to the behaviour of the Liberals here in Canberra,” the Prime Minister said, according to a Labor spokesman.

Mr Minns was sworn in as the state’s 47th premier on Tuesday morning as the vote count continues across the state.

In an address to the Coalition party room, federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton conceded Saturday’s results were “disappointing”.

“It's important that we don’t conflate state and federal results, which were indeed you don’t have to scratch the surface very far to say that they’re very different,” he said, according to a Liberal spokeswoman.

Mr Albanese introduced Chris Minns at his victory party on Saturday evening. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

He cautioned against listening to “commentators” who had concluded the party needed to move either to the left, or the right, to win back voters.

“No election is ever that straightforward,” Mr Dutton added.

Both men now have their sights set firmly on Saturday’s Aston by-election, with both sides seeking to manage expectations ahead of the poll, caused by the retirement of Alan Tudge.

The once safe blue-ribbon seat experienced a 7.3 per cent swing to Labor at the 2022 federal election, slashing the margin to 2.8 per cent.

Labor is re-running candidate Mary Doyle, while barrister Roshena Campbell was preselected to replace Mr Tudge.

Peter Dutton was quick to manage expectations in his own party room meeting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Albanese told his charges that anything less than a 5 per cent swing against Labor would be a failure for Mr Dutton, whom he accused of going missing in action ahead of the vote.

Down the hall, Mr Dutton warned of the damage the fracas within the Victorian Liberals over controversial upper house MP Moira Deeming could have on the campaign.

“We can see in Victoria at the moment, the damage that can be caused and the opportunities lost when we don't act as a team and when we talk about ourselves,” he said.

He added that despite feedback the cost of living was beginning to bite in the mortgage belt seat, it was clear Labor’s “honeymoon period isn’t quite over yet”.

The government has not won a seat at a by-election since 1920.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese picks up the phone to Dominic Perrottet following bruising election loss