Last night Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was confident that his government would be returned and would be able to form a majority government, despite predictions that the result will be a hung parliament.
This morning the PM’s confidence seemed to have adjusted to the reality of the situation as he told reporters that he was still confident of forming a majority government, but would work with cross-benchers to make up the numbers if he needed to.
“We don’t know the final composition of it at this stage, the counting has to be completed.
“When it is completed, as I said, we will work effectively, constructively, to ensure that we have a strong majority Government, and we will work across the crossbenchers as well, if we need to do so.
“But it is very important to recognise that this is the people’s house, the people have chosen the members of the Parliament, and we will work with all of them to deliver the stability and the leadership that Australians expect.” the Prime Minister said.
The results of yesterday’s federal election may not be known for weeks but the Coalition is confident that they will manage to just scrape over the line when all the votes are counted.
As vote counting ended last night neither party had the required 76 seat majority to form government and eight seats were too close to call.
The Labor party is believed to have won 67 seats, while the Coalition had secured 72 seats. The Greens retained their only lower house seat, while the Nick Xenophon Team picked up an additional seat in South Australia knocking disgraced Liberal MP Jamie Briggs out of the federal parliament.
Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie was returned, as was Queensland’s Bob Katter. In the Victorian seat of Indi Cathy McGowan triumphed over former Liberal member Sophie Mirabella.
During the ABC’s election coverage Treasurer Scott Morrison repeatedly argued that even the smallest win for the government gave them a clear mandate to push through all their policies.
Cross Benchers may hold the balance of power
This morning Bob Katter said he was working on a list of demands that would need to be met if he was to collaborate with a major party to help them form government. The outspoken MP ruled out taking on the role of speaker of the house.
Cathy McGowan has also declared no interest in the speakers role. The Victorian MP who was returned with an increased majority confirmed that she had spoken to the Prime Minister this morning and would be keeping in touch with him as the situation became clearer.
Among the seats that are too close to call are Forde and Capricornia in Queensland, Chisholm and LaTrobe in Victoria, Gilmore in NSW, Hindmarsh in South Australia and Braddon in Tasmania.
In Western Australia the seat of Cowan where Liberal Luke Simpkins is up against counter-terrorism expert Dr Anne Aly is undecided.
OIP Staff
