Federal issues hurt Vic: Chester

Victorians showed politicians the electorate can be fickle and volatile, one of the state's federal MPs believes.

Contrary to several of his Liberal colleagues, Nationals MP Darren Chester says federal issues definitely played a role in the Victorian state election campaign.

His party looks likely to lose three seats including Shepparton - regarded as one of its safest seats - to an independent.

Mr Chester said the coalition as a whole was out-campaigned.

"We didn't run a very good campaign at all," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

"The federal issues, some of the tough decisions we made in our last budget, had an impact on the ground."

The GP co-payment and increase in fuel excise were frequently raised with his office, Mr Chester said.

He warned of a victory of style over substance but conceded Victorians had sent a clear message.

Voters were always looking to see who was the best person for a role.

"There is a volatility in the electorate which members of parliament, at a state and federal level, need to be conscious of," Mr Chester said.

"The Australian people, the Victorian people are not so rusted on with their vote that they'll necessarily stick with the team they've always voted for."

In the 2013 federal election Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella lost her regional Victorian seat of Indi to independent Cathy McGowan.