INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Final results are being counted in Australia where Prime Minister Scott Morrison hopes his victory in Saturday's election will give him a
His conservative coalition has defied the polls and now needs to win three more seats to seal a shock majority
"I have always believed in miracles," Mr Morrison told supporters in his victory speech on Saturday night.
Exit polls had predicted a Labor
Party win for the first time in six years
But Labor leader Bill Shorten resigned in the wake of his party's surprise defeat
"It is obvious that Labor will not be able to form the next government," he told party members
He will not seek re-election as his party's leader.
The final result may not be known for some hours, but with more than 75% of votes
counted the Liberal-National Coalition has won, or is ahead in, 73 seats in its quest for a 76-seat majority, with Labor trailing on 65
seats.If the Coalition fails to win an outright majority it will need the help of independent MPs to govern.
The election as it happened
Australia has mandatory voting and a record 16.4 million voters enrolled for the election, which returns a new House of Representatives and
just over half of the seats in the Senate
In his victory speech, Mr Morrison paid tribute to "the quiet Australians" who voted for the Coalition
"It has been those Australians who have worked hard every day, they have their dreams, they have their aspirations, to get a job, to get an
apprenticeship, to start a business, to meet someone amazing," he said
"To start a family, to buy a home, to work hard and provide the best you can for your kids
To save for your retirement
These are the quiet Australians who have won a great victory tonight!"
Australia election results Seats declared so far
76 needed to win With 75.6% counted Australia holds elections every three years but, with infighting rife, no prime minister has succeeded
in serving a full term since 2007
Mr Morrison said he had united his government - a coalition between his Liberal Party and its traditional ally the National Party - in the
nine months since he replaced Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister.Media captionWhy Australians get fined if they don't turn up to voteSurveys
showed that the economy, cost of living, environment and health were central concerns for voters, while younger people in particular voiced
frustration about climate change and a lack of affordable housing
Mr Morrison campaigned primarily on economic issues, often doing so alone while painting the election as a choice between himself and Mr
Mr Shorten promised to cut tax breaks for the wealthy and to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
