Libs cut down PM to win Canning: Shorten

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said the Liberal Party sacrificed a prime minister to hold onto the seat of Canning, after Andrew Hastie won the West Australian by-election.

With more than 61 per cent of ballot papers counted late on Saturday night, the Liberal candidate had secured more than 55 per cent of votes on a two-party preferred basis.

That represents a six per cent swing towards Labor.

Liberal MP Don Randall, whose sudden death triggered the by-election, had a near 12 per cent margin.

"Because of Labor's campaign a safe Liberal seat has become a marginal one and the Liberal Party - led by Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop - cut down their prime minister," Mr Shorten said in a statement.

"The Liberal Party sacrificed Australia's prime minister to hold the seat of Canning."

Mr Shorten said the Liberal Party made the by-election about their own jobs rather than jobs in the electorate and across WA.

He said the result was a strong rejection of the federal coalition's "cuts and broken promises".

"It is clear that thousands of Western Australians have voted Labor for the first time," Mr Shorten said in congratulating the ALP candidate Matt Keogh.