Labor is claiming victory in the Super Saturday by-elections, with early counts on Saturday night suggesting the opposition will retain all four of its seats that were threatened in the weekend poll.
The marginal seats of Longman and Braddon were subject to intense campaigning over the past 11 weeks and were seen as a litmus test for both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten, with a full federal election due by mid-2019.
"Four from four!" Mr Shorten told a cheering crowd of Labor faithful.
"Tonight is another signpost into the destination that matters for Australians - a Labor government after the next general election."
“What a great night for the Labor Party. What a great night for Labor women candidates!”
The result is a significant relief for the opposition. A defeat in either seat would have been the first time an incumbent government won back a seat in a by-election in nearly 100 years.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten celebrates with Susan Lamb in Longman. Source: AAP
Longman: Support for 'Big Trev' collapses
Preliminary results feeding into the Australian Electoral Commission website showed a four per cent swing to Labor in the Queensland seat of Longman. The Liberal candidate Trevor Ruthenberg saw a significant swing against him, down 10 per cent.
Mr Ruthenberg conceded defeat around 9pm on Saturday night, ending the Liberals hopes in the seat they were tipped as most likely to win.
"I take responsibility for this result," Mr Ruthenberg told his supporters.
LNP supporters in Longman. Source: AAP
One Nation preferences were expected to play a key role in the Queensland seat. The two-party preferred result suggests many One Nation voters directed preferences to Labor over the Coalition, but exactly how many will not be clear until final counts are in.
Braddon: Labor holds thanks to preferences
In the seat of Braddon in north-west Tasmania the result was tighter, but Labor is projected to hold on a slim margin.
Both major party candidates in the seat – Labor’s Justine Keay and the Liberals’ Brett Whiteley – saw a drop in their primary support.
But independent candidate Craig Garland won a strong 10 per cent of the primary vote and was directing his supporters to preference Labor. His preferences seem to have played a decisive role.
Mr Whiteley stopped short of conceding defeat, but said the result was "maybe not close enough".
Mayo: Sharkie holds strong
Centre Alliance’s candidate Rebekha Sharkie won back the South Australian seat of Mayo, comfortably defeating Liberal challenger Georgina Downer.
Ms Downer has phoned Ms Sharkie and conceded defeat, while Ms Sharkie delivered a victory speech to supporters.
"We did this today because of you, because of people power," Ms Sharkie said.
"Tonight we have shown that you don't need huge wads of money, you don't need a huge political machine, what you need are people who are passionate, people who care and that is every single one of us in this room."
Ms Sharkie, a former Nick Xenophon Team member, is her party’s only member in the Lower House.
Ms Downer has already said she will contest the seat again at the next federal election.
Perth and Fremantle: Unchallenged by Liberals
The two WA seats in the Super Saturday by-elections, Perth and Fremantle, look to be safe holds for Labor as the Coalition is not fielding candidates, despite Labor only winning Perth by two per cent at the 2016 election.
Labor’s Josh Wilson will be returned in Fremantle after he quit parliament over the dual-citizenship scandal, while a new Labor face, Patrick Gorman, will enter parliament as the new member for Perth. He replaces Labor's Tim Hammond, who quit the parliament citing family reasons.
