While Labor held on to Dunkley despite sustaining a small swing, both parties will search for messages about what the result means and what they should do before the next federal election.
The prime minister has the foreign stage coming to him as he prepares for the special ASEN summit in Melbourne. But with the Dunkley Byelection only days before, he may have other things on his mind.
The March 2 byelection in the outer suburban Melbourne seat of Dunkley is a challenge for the government. Labor goes in as the favourite but at a time of high cost of living will it's 6.3 margin be enough?
The prime minister is under pressure to provide cost of living relief ahead of next month’s byelection, while the former prime minister takes his leave.