AUSTRALIAN trade unions urged their members yesterday to canvass for a Labour by-election victory to help bring down the right-wing Liberal government.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions sent out emails calling for members of its constituent organisations to campaign in the Bennelong constituency in the run-up to its December 2 vote.

Liberal incumbent John Alexander quit on Saturday over revelations that he holds British as well as Australian citizenship — disqualifying him from election under a 1901 constitutional rule.