ELECTION 2016: Coalition and Labor reach out to Xenophon, independents

It's the third day on since polling day and neither the coalition not Labor have won enough seats to form government. Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have started to reach out to a new mix of independents and crossbenchers - some are listening.

Coalition - 66
Labor - 72
Greens - 1
Other - 5

TO WIN - 76
IN DOUBT - 6

Australia in deadlock

It will be another day's wait until Australia gets any more certainty about who their prime minister will be.

Electoral commission officials won't resume counting votes until Tuesday as postal votes are compiled.

The delay prolongs political uncertainty that's likely to manifest itself on Monday in turmoil in financial markets already buffeted by fallout from Brexit.

Neither the coalition or Labor has won enough seats in the lower house to form a majority government.

Six seats remain in doubt: Labor leads in Chisholm, Forde, Herbert and Hindmarsh, while the coalition is ahead in Dunkley and Gilmore.

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Coalition strategists believe postal and pre-poll votes will favour the government.

The most likely outcome is a minority coalition government - with 75 seats - that relies on one or two crossbenchers for support.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned a final outcome may not be known until the end of next week. The Australian Electoral Commission said it could take a full month for the final result.

Both he and Labor leader Bill Shorten are in discussions with the four independents who will make or break each other's chances of forming government.

The coalition, if it retains power, will also need to deal with 10 crossbenchers in the Senate.

Mr Turnbull promised the new parliament, which could sit in early August, would be resolved "without division or rancour".

Xenophon is listening

South Australian independent Senator Nick Xenophon is fielding calls from his political friends and foes as negotiations get into full swing ahead of a result in the federal election.

The senator's phone was running hot on Sunday and he's likely to be in demand this week as counting continues, especially if a hung parliament looms.

It's expected his Nick Xenophon Team will win up to three Senate seats in South Australia to add to the one lower house seat it has already picked up.

It is also still in the running for a second lower house seat in SA.

Senator Xenophon says he hopes to work with his crossbench colleagues in the Senate, whoever they are.

"Obviously we have our differences, but where there is common ground we need to work together constructively," he told reporters.

"I want the new Senate to work, although the composition is up in the air at this stage."

Senator Xenophon has also taken calls from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and is likely to talk with them further as the election result becomes clearer.