“They may not vote LNP at all, not just in Dickson but elsewhere. It’s done him no favours.” Loading Queensland University of Technology political science expert Clive Bean said he suspected Mr Dutton would now be further under the pump in his own electorate. “There would be a perception of him having not only been a wrecker within the party but a failed one,” he said. Mr Morrison attracted 45 votes, while Mr Dutton received 40.

Dr Williams said while some leaders who put a lot on the line during the leadership spill may not contest their seat at the next election, Mr Dutton probably would. “He’s a political operator, he’s not a quitter, he’s a fighter,” he said. “He’s obviously given it all in this leadership stoush so he probably will throw his hat in the ring. It’s going to be hard.” Dr Williams said only a minority of the population had a strong ideological commitment to comments Mr Dutton has made about Muslims, African crime gangs and immigration numbers. “Most people are just plain old 'How’s the government going? How are our kitchen-table economics?',” he said.

“The really apathetic disengaged voter might be thinking 'the Liberal National government hasn’t done much for me', but on top of that, Peter Dutton, he’s the guy who stood for leader and lost so he’s carrying extra baggage as a second-round loser.” Peter Dutton's electorate office atr Strathpine was vandalised the night before the Liberal Party leadership spill. Credit:Darren England/AAP The next federal election was to be held by May 18 next year, but can be called at any time. The last election was July 2, 2016, and Mr Dutton received 44.6 per cent of the first-preference vote . After the distribution of preferences, he held the seat with just 51.6 per cent of the votes. Dr Williams said Mr Dutton would not get a swing to him at the next election.

“It's only a 1.6 per cent swing to knock him off so we’re only talking about hundreds of votes really,” he said. Loading Professor Bean said while he believed Mr Dutton could still retain his seat at the next election, he was always in a position that would be difficult. “It will be more difficult now,” he said. “He probably can win it. He will no doubt be on the back bench and be putting a lot of time into personal campaigning when the election is called, but I suspect he will find it very hard going.

“On the other hand, there will actually be a group of people who are supporters and feel that they would have preferred him to become the leader and Prime Miniter and that will rally some support for him. “But my sense is the balance will be more against him than in favour.” Campaigning at Bald Hills with Anthony Albanese prior to the Liberal party room meeting in Canberra, Ms France said Mr Dutton should be concerned about his prospects in Dickson. "This is a marginal seat and the people of Dickson will have a clear choice at the next election between somebody who is going to fight for them on the issues that matter or somebody who is really only concerned about furthering his own career," she said. Labor's Ali France was campaigning with Anthony Albanese at Bald Hills on Friday. Credit:Darren England/AAP

There were mixed reactions from Dickson residents in the wake of the spill. Sharyn Paton said she was sad to see Malcolm Turnbull lose his position, but would still support Mr Dutton at the next election. “I was hoping that Malcolm Turnbull would stay because I think he’s done a good job,” she said. “I think it’s really unfair they stabbed him in the back, he’s been a good leader and I don’t think it’s right. “I would still vote for (Mr Dutton) at the next election, he’s done a lot for the community here.”

Michelle Kanoa and Mistie Woodbridge both worked in the same building as Mr Dutton's office. Both identified as Labor voters. "(The Coalition) just need to let whoever is PM serve their time and be done with it, because it's too much change," Ms Kanoa said. Ms Woodbridge said she was glad Mr Dutton was not the prime minister. "There have been a lot of interruptions and I think it's repeating all over again with the Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd stuff," she said. "I think Australia wasn't the same after that and it's going to be the same situation - unsure of what's happening next."

However, there was also a common feeling among Dickson voters that they wanted their prime minister to focus on working for the Australian people again, after a tumultuous few days. Aileen Pratt, who arrived at the Dickson electorate office wearing a Peter Dutton campaign T-shirt, said she had been confident her local member could take out the top job. "I was stunned at first when Scott Morrison won, I was confident he (Mr Dutton) was going to win beforehand ... because I believe he is an honest man who is standing up for what he believes in,” she said. “I don`t think today`s loss will affect his chances of retaining this seat at the next federal election. “I just think all politicians, I don`t care who they are or what they are, should start standing up and working for the people of Australia and not thinking of themselves and their own jobs.”