Labor tipped to form majority government in historic vote count
Australia has elected a "community crossbench" to the federal parliament with a focus on climate, integrity and equality, an incoming independent MP says.
The latest Australian Electoral Commission figures have independents leading in 10 of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives.
Labor is sitting on 75 seats - one short of a majority - according to the AEC website, which would require the support of crossbenchers to govern.
However The Australian has projected Labor to take 77 seats, one more than needed to form majority, as it becomes clear they will be able to govern in their own right.
On Sunday, the outlet called the Sydney seat of Bennelong (once held by prime minister John Howard) for Labor as well as the Victorian seat of Deakin where the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar has been booted by voters.
With four more seats to shake-out, including three held by the Liberal Party, there is more Labor could gain.
The parliament Labor is set to lead will be dramatically different from its predecessor.
Former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel is set to hold the Victorian seat of Goldstein, having unseated Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson at Saturday's election.
She said one of the failings of the major parties, reflected in the low primary vote secured by Labor and the Liberals, was a capacity to communicate and collaborate.
"There will be conversations with my incoming fellow independents, but what Australia has elected on the crossbench this time around is a community crossbench, a group of people who seek to genuinely engage with and represent their communities," she told the ABC.
In NSW, independent Dai Le has swept aside Labor's home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally in the western Sydney seat of Fowler.
Asking on Sunday if she was leaning toward supporting Labor or the Liberals in the lower house, Ms Le pointed out both major parties had attacked her during the election campaign.
"My allegiance is to my community and nobody else," she told Sky News.
Ms Keneally was parachuted into the once safe Labor lower house seat after failing to secure a winnable spot on NSW Labor's Senate ticket.
Ms Le attributed her stunning victory to her strong roots in the community, saying Labor voters had told her they "couldn't accept someone being parachuted in from the northern beaches".
Independent Allegra Spender, who has taken the Sydney seat of Wentworth from the Liberals' Dave Sharma, said she would be a voice for the environment and business in parliament.
"This is about bringing the country together, with business, with community, with the environment and moving forward together," she said.
"The country wants to have a political class that is accountable."
Independent Sophie Scamps knocked out Liberal Jason Falinski in the Sydney seat of Mackellar.
Asked if the government's loss could be blamed on ex-prime minister Scott Morrison, Dr Scamps told Sky News formerly rusted-on Liberal voters had told her the party no longer reflected their values.
"Generally, the party has moved away from its roots," she said.
The so-called teal independents who ran in this year's election were mostly women.
"It shows that you can't ignore women anymore," Ms Spender said.
- with AAP
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