By Tess Ikonomou and Kat Wong in Canberra

The taxes, house prices and hospital conditions of one electorate have dominated Parliament House as anxieties simmer over its upcoming by-election.

Voters will head to the ballot box in the Victorian seat of Dunkley on Saturday, following the death last year of Labor MP Peta Murphy in what will be the government’s first major litmus test of 2024.

As the major parties attempt to curry favour with southeast Melbourne voters, many significant political issues have been reframed in accordance with the electorate.

During Question Time on Monday, Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley asked how the government’s migration policy would affect the cost of housing in the suburb of Frankston, Treasurer Jim Chalmers lauded the impact his tax cuts would have on those voters and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had done substantial work to address gambling and honour Ms Murphy’s legacy.

Health Minister Mark Butler also spruiked the Victorian Labor government’s upgrades to Frankston Hospital, while lambasting the health sector cuts made when the opposition was in power.

But the Resolve Political Monitor, published in Nine newspapers, and Newspoll, published in The Australian, show Labor has lost some edge on the primary vote.

The latest polling reveals Resolve has the coalition at 37 per cent against Labor at 34 per cent, while Newspoll shows the coalition ahead at 36 per cent compared to Labor at 33 per cent.

Cabinet Minister Murray Watt said by-elections were always tough for incumbent governments.

“It would be reasonable to expect to swing against the government … if we can manage to have a win, and hold on to that seat, then we’ll be very happy,” he told ABC News on Monday.

Resolve asked about 1600 voters if they supported Labor’s changes to the stage three tax cuts, which increased tax breaks for lower paid workers while lowering the benefit for higher income earners.

More than half – 52 per cent – backed the change while 14 per cent opposed it, with 35 per cent undecided.

A breakdown of income categories showed all voters backed the change, including those earning more.

Asked if they viewed Labor’s changes as a broken promise, given the party went to the last federal election promising no change, 46 per cent said that changing the policy to “suit the times” was sensible.

Another 34 per cent said it amounted to a broken promise.

But 61 per cent said it didn’t make them think differently about the prime minister.

Newspoll surveyed 1245 voters between February 19-23.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said her party held the seat on a six per cent margin, when governments on average recorded an eight per cent swing against it in by-elections.

“We always knew that the Dunkley by-election would be very close,” she told Seven’s Sunrise.

Former prime minister John Howard joined the opposition’s bid to win the seat, urging voters to send Labor a “wake-up call”.

In a message, Mr Howard said the government had done a poor job of tackling inflation which was impacting so many Australians.

“It appears increasingly out of its depth in managing the economy and important matters of security,” he wrote.

“In short, Labor needs a wake-up call.”

Nathan Conroy, the mayor of Frankston City Council, is contesting for the Liberal Party while community leader Jodie Belyea will aim to retain the seat for Labor.

Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said the mood in the electorate was one of anger towards the government over cost of living pressures, but conceded it was going to be a tough contest.