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Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared victory for his ruling conservative coalition in the country’s tight general election, eight days after voters went to the polls. “We’ve won the election, that’s what we’ve done,” Turnbull told reporters in Sydney yesterday. “It is vital that this parliament works; it is vital that we work together and, as far as we can, find ways upon which we can all agree,” Turnbull added.
Earlier yesterday, Bill Shorten, leader of the opposition party, had conceded defeat and called Turnbull to congratulate him. “It is clear that Mr Turnbull and his coalition will form a government,” Shorten said in a news conference in Melbourne.
“So I have spoken to Mr Turnbull earlier this afternoon to congratulate him and (his wife) Lucy and to wish them my very best.”
Both Turnbull’s ruling Liberal/National coalition and Labour remain short of the 76 seats needed to claim a majority in the 150-seat House of Representatives, with counting still ongoing. But Turnbull has won the support of three independent MPs on budget matters and on votes of no confidence, paving the way for him to form a minority government if he does not win 76 seats.
The coalition is expected to secure 74 seats, and potentially two more, according to projections by state broadcaster ABC. — AFP
Online Reporter