Federal election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull's Coalition wins election

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http://www.smh.com.au/federal-po ... 0160710-gq2lhk.html



Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has drawn a line under one of the longest elections in Australian history by declaring victory and urging all politicians to work together to make the next Parliament a success.

While counting continues in a handful of marginal seats, the Coalition is confident it will gain at least the 76 seats required to form government in its own right.

Following an eight-week campaign and eight days of further uncertainty sparked by the closer-than-expected result, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten rang Mr Turnbull on Sunday to concede defeat.

"We have won the election," Mr Turnbull told reporters on Sunday. "That's what we've done – we've won the election."

Mr Turnbull will visit the Governor-General next week to be officially sworn in after first signing an agreement with Coalition partners the Nationals.
The Nationals feel emboldened after picking up at least one extra seat at the election and are likely to push for an extra spot in cabinet and possibly control over a key economic portfolio.

Mr Turnbull acknowledged the tight result but said it had been a "successful" election for the Coalition.

The Coalition is leading Labor by about 800,000 primary votes, is ahead in the two-party preferred count and had won more seats in the House of Representatives, he said.

"It is vital that this Parliament works," Mr Turnbull said.

"We need to ensure that we have a strong economy in the years ahead.

"We need to ensure that we maintain a successful transition from an economy fuelled up by the mining construction boom to one that is more diverse.

"We need to ensure that Medicare and education, our health services, and all those vital government services are provided for and Australians feel secure that they are provided for and guaranteed.

"We have to ensure that we bring our budget back into balance. These challenges are not easy."

The Coalition will face a difficult Senate, dominated by crossbenchers from the Nick Xenophon Team, Pauline Hanson's One Nation and other smaller parties.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Shorten announced he had telephoned Mr Turnbull to congratulate him on his victory.

"I respect that Mr Turnbull has won government – be it a minority government or a majority of one or two seats," Mr Shorten said.
"I believe that the government has won the election, absolutely."

He said he accepted Mr Turnbull has a mandate to pursue the policies he took to the election but that Labor also has its own mandate from voters to defend its values.
Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull said it had been a "successful" election for the Coalition.
Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull said it had been a "successful" election for the Coalition. Photo: Peter Rae
The latest results from the Australian Electoral Commission showed Labor leading by 297 votes in the South Australian seat of Hindmarsh (up from 247 the day before) and by 490 votes in the West Australian seat of Cowan (up from 397). Counting will resume for the Queensland seats of Flynn, Herbert and Capricornia on Monday.
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Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten vowed to work together to examine whether Australia should introduce electronic voting at future elections.
"We're a grown up democracy," Mr Shorten said. "It shouldn't be taking eight days to find out who won and who lost."
Mr Turnbull said: "I have been an advocate of electronic voting for a long time.
"Yes, this is something we must look at."
Mr Turnbull said he also wanted to investigate the regulation of "robocalls" and text messages sent out by political parties during election campaigns.
Nationals sources said they would like to see the party take control of an economic portfolio such as trade, energy and resources or small business in a new cabinet.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said on Sunday the Nationals will "drive a hard bargain" in the next Parliament but that he wants to keep secret the conditions of a written agreement to be signed with Mr Turnbull.
Asked what he would be pushing for under a new agreement with Mr Turnbull following the election, Mr Joyce told Sky News: "The first aspiration is the agreement remains confidential. That's aspiration one, two, three, four, five and six."

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