While it was clear the Liberals were set to govern in minority weeks ago, the end of the vote count leaves the party with one less seat than expected, making forming government harder.
Despite a swing against it, the Liberal party has likely won the most seats, but will fall short of a majority. While the vote counting will continue, the political fight is now to form government.
Hours into the count in the Tasmanian election, the state can expect a hung parliament. Meanwhile, Labor is succeeding in a South Australian state byelection.
In covering the final days of the Victorian election, mainstream media fell victim to wanting the most dramatic outcome – no matter how weak the evidence for it may have been.
Since the advent of the two-party preferred system, there have been two examples of parties governing effectively in minority, and with the support of independents.
In 1922-23, Billy Hughes’ Nationalist Party brokered a deal with the Country Party to form government - but only on condition Hughes was no longer prime minister. It’s possible this could play out again.
Each day seems to bring a new announcement of an independent taking on a high-profile Liberal candidate.
Scott Morrison has been returned as prime minister, but we don’t yet know if the Coalition will get to the 77 seats it needs to form majority government (minus the speaker).
AAP/Joel Carrett
A minority government would not mean the government would fall - but it would make governing more difficult.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison concedes the Liberals lost the byelection in Wentworth on Saturday night- but postal votes have added uncertainty to the outcome.
AAP/Dan Himbrechts
After election night reports of a thumping win in by independent Kerryn Phelps, the Liberals have recovered significantly in postal votes - so much so, the result is now uncertain.A
The Queen reading the last Queen’s Speech in 2016.
Alastair Grant/PA Archive
UK voters delivered a devastating blow to the prime minister, who combined a populist message with her party’s traditional economic policies. She may now face a power struggle.
Rolling coverage of the general election results from expert academics.
Malcolm Turnbull and member-elect for the federal seat of Brisbane, Trevor Evans, speak to the media as they walk through central Brisbane.
Dan Peled/AAP
The political and fiscal vice in which Malcolm Turnbull is now caught was neatly illustrated by a coincidence of timing in these early post-election days.
One thing Malcolm Turnbull should do in the short term if he’s forming a new ministry is find a first-rate minister to put into the health portfolio.
David Moir/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull is struggling to produce the right response in the aftermath of his election debacle. On Saturday he did not take on any blame and lashed out at Labor’s “Mediscare” tactic. On Tuesday…
Malcolm Turnbull said he remained ‘quietly confident, reasonably confident’ of forming a majority government.
David Moir/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull has taken ‘absolutely full responsibility’ for his criticised election campaign, and declared the Coalition must rebuild public trust in itself on the issue of Medicare.