Mr Birrell travelled to early voting booths in Albury, Barooga and Deniliquin.
“I got a sense that people were frustrated with everyone,” he said.
He said the absence of Sussan Ley from her electorate made the by-election difficult for the Liberals and that the Nationals faced a lack of brand recognition due to being unable to contest the seat since 2001.
Mr Birrell also said that although she campaigned on no water buy-backs, independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe associated with MPs who were supportive of the policy, which impacted her performance in the by-election.
Mr Birrell said there was a difference between what a candidate wanted to do and what their numbers in parliament actually allowed them to do.
“Parties that have never been in government have never compromised,” he said.
“The Coalition was able to work with Labor premiers on water.
“The outcome wasn’t perfect, I would have liked it to be different, but we can live with it.”
When asked if he was concerned about a potential challenge from One Nation in Nicholls, Mr Birrell said “I have concerns about all political opponents.”
“It’s highly contested, which is good for democracy,” he said.
