Election: Tight vote could end in hung parliament

Australia will not know the result of its federal election for days as counting in tight seats continues. Twelve out of 150 lower house seats remain in doubt, with counting of pre-poll, postal and absentee votes to resume on Tuesday. The official Australian Electoral Commission tally has Labour on 71 seats and the ruling Liberal-National […]

Australia will not know the result of its federal election for days as counting in tight seats continues.
Twelve out of 150 lower house seats remain in doubt, with counting of pre-poll, postal and absentee votes to resume on Tuesday.
The official Australian Electoral Commission tally has Labour on 71 seats and the ruling Liberal-National coalition on 67 seats.
Independents and minor parties gained an unprecedented share of the vote.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said early on Sunday morning he expected to get the 76 seats he needs to form a new administration. Postal votes are expected to favour his candidates.
Analysts are still predicting that Mr Turnbull’s coalition will come closest to forming a government, though a hung parliament, where neither party has an absolute majority, is likely.
In that case, both Mr Turnbull and Labour leader Bill Shorten will have the chance to form government by doing a deal with independents and minor parties.