The Werribee byelection result shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been watching what has been happening in Victoria, separate to the nation. Queensland Labor faced a similar thumping in two byelections it held before the state election (losing a heartland seat and just holding on to the other) but managed to claw back support. (It is also worth noting the record low voter turn out in Werribee and the issue both major political parties have with inspiring voters in the first place).

From a federal perspective, the Liberals are now trying to remind people that elections are not a popularity contest – that is because while Anthony Albanese isn’t loved, he also isn’t hated and in focus groups, is seen as more likable than Peter Dutton.

That’s part of the Labor strategists calculations for the election – that an election campaign will put Dutton under the media pressure he has so far largely avoided, and therefore will reveal more of who he is and remind the electorate why they haven’t exactly warmed to him: