Since then, Labor has usually run dead in Willoughby, and on some occasions has been pushed into third place. The only time the Liberal hold on the seat has been seriously threatened since the 1980s came on Collins' retirement in 2003.
The passage describes a pattern of Labor's performance in Willoughby, highlighting their consistent poor showing and the exception of Collins' retirement in 2003 as a significant challenge to the Liberal party's hold on the seat.