One seat to go: Gillard and Abbott set to claim 73 each

LONDON - With a single seat, Hasluck in Western Australia, still in doubt, Labor has 73 and the Coalition 72 of the 150 seats in Parliament’s lower house. Political horse trading with Independents has begun after Labor failed to win a sufficient number of seats on Saturday to retain power in its own right, delivering Australia its first hung parliament in 70 years.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Labor and the Coalition are now fighting for the support of three critical rural independents, Bob Katter, from far north Queensland, and Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, from New South Wales (NSW).

Both sides have to rely on three Independents and an Australian Greens MP Ken Wyatt, to form a minority government.

The Australian Electoral Commission labelled Brisbane as won by the Liberal National Party’s Teresa Gambaro this morning, unseating incumbent Labor MP Arch Bevis.

Denison in Tasmania was also in doubt, but has been listed as a Labor win by the Australian Electoral Commission this morning, seemingly dashing the hopes of high-profile independent Andrew Wilkie.

While both seats were moved from the AEC’s “close seats” list to seats “won”, its website notes that results can change and the seat has not been officially declared. (ANI)