In Australia, it is extremely rare for sitting governments to gain seats in byelections and most analysts expected Labor and the Centre Alliance to win the five seats on offer.

However, the government has been rattled by its loss in the Queensland seat of Longman because its primary vote dropped 10 percentage points to 29 per cent.

“The Liberals and Nationals always listen to people and we will – of course – continue to do so,” Mr McCormack said.

“I am regularly out and about in the Riverina and Central West listening to local people. I value the feedback locals give me and I take your voice, ideas and feedback with me to Canberra.

“There is always feedback from elections and of course we will listen to it. It is important to remember by-elections are a different from general elections – they do not generally favour the Government and the context of the citizenship issues also makes this unique.”

Opposition leader Bill Shorten and his successful candidates attributed their performance in part to Labor’s fight against the Coalition’s pledge to cut corporate taxes.

“The message I take from these byelections is that people want better hospitals, not bigger banks,” Mr Shorten told ABC Breakfast.

State Labor candidate for Wagga at the pending by-election, Dan Hayes, said Super Saturday had brought a “fantastic result”.

“The pressure is and should still be on Turnbull and his government over a raft of unpopular policies,” Mr Hayes said.

“They are prepared to give tax cuts to the big end of town while Labor is out there talking about, health, jobs and schools.

“The people responded to that.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged that some of the government’s messages were not getting through but remained committed to a $35 billion corporate tax cut.

“Well we will look very seriously and thoughtfully and humbly at the way in which the voters have responded. I mean, clearly we look at it,” Mr Turnbull said on Sunday.

Coalition MPs have reportedly been urging Mr Turnbull to abandon or scale back the corporate tax cuts by excluding the banking sector in the wake of the byelection results.

If the Longman primary vote was replicated across Queensland, Labor could easily win the next election.

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As Deputy Prime Minister, Mr McCormack was involved in campaigning for the byelelctions, travelling to Queensland and South Australia this month to support Liberal and LNP candidates.

"There are no votes in company tax cuts," former prime minister Abbott told Sydney radio station 2GB on Monday.

Mr McCormack did not directly respond to questions over his ongoing support for corporate tax cuts, saying the government was “focused on delivering for people right around Australia”.

He did back Treasurer Scott Morrison’s budget, which outlined individual and corporate tax cuts in May.

“The government will keep working hard on Australians’ behalf to deliver the services, infrastructure and representation people need,” Mr McCormack said.

“This includes backing hardworking businesses to create jobs and opportunities around the nation, including the runs already on the board for local small, family and farming businesses we have delivered.

“We will continue to make strong economic growth with record jobs growth and more investment a priority – because that is so important, especially in the regions. The Treasurer has put together a responsible Budget as part of our plan and we want Australian businesses to remain competitive internationally.”

Mr McCormack said he had seen “firsthand the value of fodder and water storage write-offs for farmers, as well as the boost the $20,000 instant asset write-off for small business”.

“While we delivered tax relief for local small, medium and family businesses while I was Small Business Minister and income tax cuts for hard-working individuals in recent months, Labor has only stood in the way,” he said.