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New Australian PM Turnbull's popularity to be tested in crucial by-election

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

A crucial by-election in the Western Australian seat of Canning is set to take place on Saturday, with the government expecting to hold the safe Liberal seat after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's successful leadership challenge on Monday.

Canning has been under siege from Labor in recent weeks, however the recent leadership coup - which ousted Tony Abbott - could be enough to secure the seat.

The government holds an 11.8-percent margin, but, last week, newspolls had reported a 10-percent swing in favor of the Opposition going into the by-election.

The recent leadership spill and subsequent dumping of Abbott means those voters on the fence could swing back to the Liberal side.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is in Perth on Friday to drum up last-minute support for his candidate, while Prime Minister Turnbull said he would be unable to attend due to pressing ministerial issues such as determining his cabinet members - an announcement he will make on Monday.

Shorten said Labor's policies of job creation and the insecurity in the government's leadership could bode well for the Opposition.

"Labor has been successful in the Canning by-election doing two things; putting the issue of jobs right back on the agenda, and also, this must be the only by-election in Australian political history where even before the result's had, the government's kicked out their own leader," he said in Canberra before heading to Perth.

However it has been reported that Labor figures were ready to concede the seat, confirming that Turnbull's victory in the leadership coup had made it harder for the Opposition to win.

Labor's candidate, Matt Keogh, is a local lawyer, while the Liberal candidate is Andrew Hastie, a former Special Air Service captain who saw action in Afghanistan.

Residents in the seat of Canning will vote on Saturday. Endi