Australia's opposition Labor Party on Saturday claimed the government had lost its mandate to rule, after national elections failed to give Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull an obvious victory.
Nearing midnight on Saturday, Turnbull's Liberal/National government was unable to claim a win in the election they called early, with the prospect of a hung parliament looming as ballots were counted late into the night.
Labor leader Bill Shorten, who campaigned hard on health and education in a pitch directed at low and middle income earners, said that after his party suffered a thumping defeat in the last election in 2013, it was "back".
"Three years after the Liberals came to power in a landslide, they have lost their mandate," he told cheering supporters in Melbourne.
Analysts have suggested that neither Labor or the Liberal/National coalition have won the 76 seats needed to form a majority in the 150-seat House of Representatives.
While the coalition appears ahead of Labor in the count, it is expected to need the support of at least some of the likely five independents and minor parties in parliament to form a government.
An upbeat Shorten said that however the vote worked out, "Mr Turnbull will never be able to claim that the people of Australia have adopted his ideological agenda".
"He will never again be able to promise the stability which he has completely failed to deliver tonight."
The former union leader conducted a strong campaign, pledging to improve health and education spending, encouraging more renewable energy and a fairer tax system.
"We are the party that includes every citizen of the great Australian aspiration for the fair go all round," Shorten said, using a common Australian expression for equal opportunity.
"And we are the party for the people whose voices all too often go unheard."
"And I in particular tonight, I say to all those Australians who feel marginalised and forgotten -- alienated and excluded -- and to all those Australians who feel that politics as usual simply doesn't work for them. Labor will not leave you behind. We will not let you down," he said.
Turnbull called an election early because crossbenchers hold the balance of power in the upper house Senate.
They have failed to pass deadlocked legislation to overhaul unions, providing the trigger for a double dissolution of parliament, where all seats in the upper and lower houses are contested.
AFP
Sat Jul 02 2016
![Australian government has lost its mandate: Labor opposition Australian government has lost its mandate: Labor opposition](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/51467475163_AustraliaVote.jpg)
People wait in a queue next to posters of candidate Labor Party leader Bill Shorten, before casting their votes at a polling station in Melbourne on July 2, 2016. AFP photo
Konsert jelajah: Taylor Swift teruskan konsert London selepas ancaman keganasan
Taylor Swift akan meneruskan persembahan di London pada Khamis, meneruskan jelajah konsert terbesar dunia di tengah-tengah kebimbangan keselamatan susulan cubaan serangan Daesh memaksa pembatalan tarikh konsert di Vienna, minggu lalu.
Taliban rai ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahan Afghanistan
Kerajaan Taliban semalam meraikan ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahannya di Afghanistan dengan perarakan tentera yang memberi penghormatan kepada bom buatan sendiri yang digunakan ketika peperangan, pesawat pejuang dan perbarisan pasukan keselamatan.
![Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723677980_MounirNasraoui.jpg)
Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan
Mounir Nasraoui, bapa kepada Lamine Yamal, ditikam pada lewat Rabu di tempat letak kereta di bandar Mataro di timur laut Sepanyol.
Warga AS dihukum penjara 15 hari di Rusia kerana bersikap samseng
Mahkamah Moscow menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 15 hari kepada warga Amerika Syarikat Joseph Tater pada Rabu kerana bersikap samseng.
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
Fadillah tiba di Peru, hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tiba Lima, Peru bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Tenaga (EMM) di bawah Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) yang berlangsung selama dua hari.
BNM denda Maybank RM4.32 juta, CIMB RM760,000 berikutan gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
Bank Negara Malaysia mengenakan Penalti Monetari Pentadbiran (AMP) sebanyak RM4.32 juta ke atas Malayan Banking Bhd dan Maybank Islamic Bhd serta RM760,000 ke atas CIMB Bank Bhd dan CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd susulan gangguan beberapa perkhidmatan perbankan yang berpanjangan.
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
![Australia dan Malaysia jalin hubungan Australia-ASEAN yang lebih kukuh - Heinecke Australia dan Malaysia jalin hubungan Australia-ASEAN yang lebih kukuh - Heinecke](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723203849_TBDanielleHeinecke.jpg)
Australia dan Malaysia jalin hubungan Australia-ASEAN yang lebih kukuh - Heinecke
Heinecke menyamakan hubungan antara Australia dan ASEAN dengan gabungan popular Malaysia, "Roti Canai dan Teh Tarik," yang menggambarkan sinergi semula jadi antara kedua-duanya.
![Tarik diri Olimpik Paris, Sinner pertahan gelaran Canadian Open Tarik diri Olimpik Paris, Sinner pertahan gelaran Canadian Open](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723161953_JannikSinner.jpg)
Tarik diri Olimpik Paris, Sinner pertahan gelaran Canadian Open
Pemain tenis nombor satu dunia, Jannik Sinner, mempertahankan gelaran Canadian Open dengan kemenangan 6-2 6-4 ke atas Borna Coric dari Croatia.
![Sarawak belajar bagaimana Australia urus populasi buaya Sarawak belajar bagaimana Australia urus populasi buaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720601158_buaya.jpg)
Sarawak belajar bagaimana Australia urus populasi buaya
Delegasi kerajaan Sarawak diketuai Timbalan Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan mengadakan lawatan kerja empat hari ke Australia untuk mengkaji kaedah sesuai bagi menguruskan populasi buaya.
![Australia naikkan tahap ancaman keganasan selepas terima maklumat perisikan Australia naikkan tahap ancaman keganasan selepas terima maklumat perisikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41722835981_TBAustraliasPrim.jpg)
Australia naikkan tahap ancaman keganasan selepas terima maklumat perisikan
Australia menaikkan tahap ancaman keganasannya daripada "mungkin berlaku" kepada "kemungkinan besar akan berlaku", umum Perdana Menteri Anthony Albanese.
![Rozita Rohaizad tekad terus bantu martabat warisan Malaysia di Australia Rozita Rohaizad tekad terus bantu martabat warisan Malaysia di Australia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41722645001_tbRozitaRohaizadA.jpg)
Rozita Rohaizad tekad terus bantu martabat warisan Malaysia di Australia
Sanggup guna duit sendiri berulang-alik ke Australia untuk menjadi tenaga pengajar, setiap kali berlangsungnya pelbagai festival kesenian kebudayaan.
![Kerajaan Australia akan paksa bank bayar ganti rugi kepada mangsa penipuan Kerajaan Australia akan paksa bank bayar ganti rugi kepada mangsa penipuan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722414152_TBGENERICMACAUSCAM.jpg)
Kerajaan Australia akan paksa bank bayar ganti rugi kepada mangsa penipuan
Bank di Australia akan dipaksa membayar ganti rugi kepada pelanggan yang kehilangan wang akibat penipuan di bawah undang-undang baharu yang dicadangkan oleh kerajaan, lapor Xinhua.
![Olimpik Paris 2024: Australia menang emas 4x100m gaya bebas wanita Olimpik Paris 2024: Australia menang emas 4x100m gaya bebas wanita](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51722130395_tbOlympics.jpg)
Olimpik Paris 2024: Australia menang emas 4x100m gaya bebas wanita
Kuartet renang wanita Australia mencipta rekod baharu Sukan Olimpik Paris apabila memenangi pingat emas keempat berturut-turut dalam acara 4x100 meter (m) gaya bebas di Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 pada S
![Pemimpin Australia, New Zealand dan Kanada gesa gencatan senjata segera di Gaza Pemimpin Australia, New Zealand dan Kanada gesa gencatan senjata segera di Gaza](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721105049_zionist.jpg)
Pemimpin Australia, New Zealand dan Kanada gesa gencatan senjata segera di Gaza
Ketiga-tiga pemimpin itu menggesa Israel untuk memberi maklum balas terhadap keputusan ICJ minggu lepas yang menganggap pendudukan wilayah Palestin oleh Israel adalah haram.
![2 juruterbang maut helikopter bertembung, terhempas di Australia 2 juruterbang maut helikopter bertembung, terhempas di Australia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721882926_WesternAustraliaPo.jpg)
2 juruterbang maut helikopter bertembung, terhempas di Australia
Dua helikopter dilaporkan bertembung di udara pada Khamis di barat Australia, lapor Xinhua.
![[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Gangguan IT global: Apa yang sedang berlaku? [LAPOR LANGSUNG] Gangguan IT global: Apa yang sedang berlaku?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721379251_grocerystore.jpg)
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Gangguan IT global: Apa yang sedang berlaku?
Sekitar jam 3 petang (waktu Australia) gangguan IT secara besar-besaran dilaporkan berlaku di sana. Adakah Malaysia terjejas?