Negotiations between Australia's major political parties and the independent Members of Parliament (MPs), who could decide the eventual winner of the 2010 general election, are expected to begin on Monday. 

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (L) is going to cast her vote at Melbourne's Seabrook Primary School polling station, Aug. 21, 2010. [Bai Xue/Xinhua]

Voters have likely delivered Australia its first hung parliament since 1940, which means neither Labor nor the opposition Liberal/National coalition had the outright majority of 76 seats to form government.

Three returned independents - Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter - therefore, will share the balance of power with the Greens MP Adam Bandt.

Independent Andrew Wilkie is also in the race to win the seat of Denison in Tasmania, while West Australian National MP Tony Crook has signaled he will act independently of the coalition.

The three sitting independent MPs on Monday promised to work as closely together as possible as a political deadlock continues to hang over the country.

Windsor, Oakeshott and Katter discussed their negotiation strategy via a phone hook-up late on Sunday night. They are expected to travel to Canberra for a face-to-face meeting on Monday.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Sunday have already spoken with the three incumbent independents, one day after Saturday's general election.

Gillard will be in Canberra on Monday and could possibly meet with the independents.

Australian Electoral Commission said it had so far called 70 seats for Labor, the same for the coalition, three to independents and one to the Greens. Counting of vote is likely to continue until the end of the week.

Related

• Australia starts counting votes
• Australia's general election starts
• Australia election result too close to predict
• Latest poll indicates Australian Opposition to win election
• Australian election campaign begins
• Australian federal election campaign in full swing

Go to Forum >>0 Comments