The Coalition has all but won the election, with analysts predicating they will secure enough votes in the coming days to form government.
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Following the counting of more than a million postal votes, the center-right Coalition – the biggest parties of which are Shorten’s Liberal Party, and the rural-based National Party – pulled ahead in the total.
But Mr Shorten has indicated he will not concede until the Coalition officially wins 76 seats.
Although Turnbull is expected to form a majority government, he is likely to be forced to depend on several independent members to get legislation through the lower house, raising questions about the long-term functioning of his government.
Australia’s edging closer to a final election result with the vote count continuing and six seats still hanging in the balance.
“But the combination of a prime minister with no authority, a government with no direction and a Liberal Party at war with itself will see Australians back at the polls within the year”, he said.
According to Guardian Australia’s analysis, the Coalition will win at least 70 seats, after calling Dunkley in Victoria and Grey in South Australia for the Liberals.
Image: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is followed by a televsion camerman as he walks to his vehicle outside his home in Sydney, Australia, July 5, 2016.
Labor’s candidate in Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas, told the ABC: “I think we may go down a little bit more while we count postals and then turning it around with the absentees”.
This means the Coalition has 74 of the 76 seats in needs for a majority government, with Labor trailing behind on 66.
“I will approach everything on its merits and if a Labor Opposition brings a no-confidence motion against Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Party…”
Another independent, Bob Katter, said Thursday that he would also back Turnbull’s coalition – meaning the government has the support of three of the five independent and minor party lawmakers in the chamber.
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The Australian newspaper has reported Immigration Minister Peter Dutton would be given a full-time role on the national security committee of Cabinet, while ACT Senator Zed Seselja and Victorian MP Michael Sukkar could be promoted to the frontbench.
