Ms King would not comment on whether she would be in the running for a ministry in the Rudd Government.

She said national issues played a major role in the result, but locals also voted for the ALP's promise to fully fund the Goldfields Super pipe.

"The national issues in terms of WorkChoices, dealing with climate change and particularly water security really did resonate there," Ms King said.

"Obviously the issue of water security with Federal Labor having funded the full $90 million was one of the main issues that people thought about as they voted going into the election campaign."

Liberals candidate for Ballarat Samantha McIntosh said she was disappointed with the outcome, but the national swing towards Labor was too great.

"I think it was just the national tide that went against us. We had huge support right throughout the campaign and I think there was just a certain amount that when you've got a national swing like that - that you really can't

control," Ms McIntosh said.

Ms King was given a third term as Ballarat's Federal Representative, elected with a substantial majority over her competitors.

Ballarat followed the Australia-wide trend of a swing from from the Liberal Party, with a large margin between the electorate's two main candidates.

Figures show Ms King received just over 50 per cent of the primary vote and almost 59 per cent on a two-candidate preferred basis.

A swing of 5.6 per cent in the primary vote carried Ms King over the line while the Liberal vote followed the national trend, with Ms McIntosh recording a swing of almost almost seven per cent against her.

Ms King said the election of the Rudd Government would make her more constructive.