03.07.2016 - 07:08
Malcolm Turnbull’s Coalition Government is facing a desperate fight to hang on to a majority in Parliament. On the count so far it has won at least 65 seats, 11 fewer than the 76 needed to command a majority in the Lower House.
While Bill Shorten and Labor look set to fall short of being able to form even a minority government, they have staged an amazing comeback that has again highlighted the volatility of modern Australian politics.
The Apple Isle turned red
Tasmania set the tone early in the evening, with Bass the first seat to fall to Labor, followed by Braddon and Lyons, reversing the Liberal Party’s 2013 gains in the state.
The result means that of the five federal Tasmanian seats, Labor will now hold four, with independent MP Andrew Wilkie holding the fifth.
While Labor recorded a 2 per cent national swing, in Tasmania it was twice that, showing deeper disenchantment with the Coalition Government.
Queensland swung for Labor
The ALP looks likely to pick up between two and four seats in Queensland, including that of key Turnbull backer Wyatt Roy, who saw his 6 per cent margin washed away, and now can add to his resume the record of youngest member of Parliament to ever be voted out.
So where does this leave us?
Mr Turnbull says he has “every confidence” the Coalition will be able to form a majority government but he has conceded a final result is not likely before Tuesday at the earliest.
While it seems unlikely Labor will get the seats required to form even a minority Government, there is no guarantee the Coalition will get the required seats either.
Australian Electoral Commission has said vote counting will not start again until Tuesday, meaning ongoing uncertainty and speculation.
