The vote count in Australia’s general election is proving closer than opinion polls had predicted, with the ruling conservative coalition appearing more likely to form a government than
By Rod McGuirk, Associated Press
May 18 2019 12:05 PM
The vote count in Australia’s general election is proving closer than opinion polls had predicted, with the ruling conservative coalition appearing more likely to form a government than the favoured centre-left opposition party.
Opposition Labour Party deputy leader Tanya Plibersek had said in early counting that she was “more cautiously optimistic than confident”, but she predicted a tighter result as counting progressed.
“The only thing you can say about tonight is it’s likely to be a very late night,” she said.
It was not clear whether the results would be available by the end of vote counting on Saturday.
Opinion polls had suggested that the conservative Liberal Party-led coalition would lose its bid for a third three-year term, and that Scott Morrison would have had one of the shortest tenures as prime minister in the 118-year history of the Australian federation.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said on Saturday morning that he was confident Labour would win, but Mr Morrison would not be drawn on a prediction.
Mr Morrison is the conservatives’ third prime minister since they were first elected in 2013. He replaced Malcolm Turnbull in a leadership ballot of government colleagues in August.
Just been home to the Shire with Jen & the girls to vote in my electorate of Cook. To come home & be here with my local community today is a great thrill. Thank you to all the volunteers who have been out supporting the @LiberalAus & @The_Nationals across the country #ausvotespic.twitter.com/qQsKhhjCkH
Tony Abbott, who became the first of the three conservative prime ministers in the 2013 election, conceded defeat in the Sydney seat he has held since 1994.
