Australian election 2010

The morning after a dreadful night before, Labor looks better placed than the coalition to form a minority government in what could be Australia's first hung parliament in 70 years.

It could take more than a week to learn who will govern Australia after a cliffhanger election - the closest in nearly 50 years - and the winner may have to woo the support of a handful of independent lawmakers in order to assume power.

Former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says the federal election was fought on state issues, and he believes Prime Minister Julia Gillard can form a minority government with the independents in the lower house.

In just over a week, Labor's decision to fire its big shot - its official campaign launch - inside the final week of the election campaign may be seen as madness or pure genius.

Australia won't be able to meet its targets for reducing carbon gas emissions without charging polluters, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said today as she announced her government's climate change policy ahead of elections next month.

As speculation mounts that a federal election will be called in the next few weeks, frontbencher Stephen Smith has set a date - before December 5.

Julia Gillard has finally joined the social networking site Twitter - and she's sent it into a Sunday afternoon frenzy.

Julia Gillard appears unlikely to call an election this weekend after she was forced to sidestep a bombshell claim she pulled out of a deal with Kevin Rudd the night before she seized the leadership.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says it is understandable if neither Australia's prime minister nor its foreign minister can attend next week's Pacific Islands Forum.

Julia Gillard appears to be showing the strains of the campaign trail, after a gaffe in which she mistakenly referred to talks with Nauru about a regional refugee processing hub.

Julia Gillard has declared the election is all about the economy on a day when Tony Abbott's paid parental scheme launch was overshadowed by accusations of a vicious smear campaign.

Australia should move to be a republic when the reign of Queen Elizabeth II ends, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

There will be a flurry of trans-Tasman shuttle diplomacy after tomorrow's Australian election but the Government is anticipating there will be little, if any, change in the relationship.

The Australian Greens will hold the balance of power in the next Senate, with leader Bob Brown tipping the party will end up with nine upper house seats in total.

Millions of Australians have voted in what is expected to be one of the closest federal elections in living memory.

The National Party expects to gain three new lower house seats and an additional Senate spot at this election, proof the party of rural and regional Australia has life in it yet.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to officially start the election race this morning, with Australians likely to go to the polls in late August.