There is bad news for Australian incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition parties just minutes from the start of counting in the federal election.
After weeks of tense campaigning, the moment of truth has arrived.
Results in the federal election will start being counted at 6pm eastern standard time. Keep an eye on this blog for all the latest results as they flow in.
Exit poll spells bad news for ScoMo
James Law
A Channel Nine-Galaxy exit poll has predicted a decisive win for Labor tonight.
Drawing on a survey hitting 33 electorates across six states, the poll predicts Labor will gain a two-party preferred result of 52 per cent to the Coalition’s 48 per cent.
This represents a 2.5 per cent swing to Labor since the 2016 election, and puts 13 Coalition seats within reach.
The Coalition has posted a 39 per cent primary vote, down 3.1 per cent and well below the four seats it needs to win government.
The poll gives Labor a primary vote of 38 per cent, 10 per cent for One Nation and 3 per cent for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.
Nine political reporter Chris Uhlmann said Labor only needed a 1 per cent swing to deliver the four seats needed to form government, so it could win easily with a swing of 2.5 per cent.
The poll predicts a 3.2 per cent swing towards Labor in Victoria and a 1.1 per cent swing in Queensland, the two states that could matter most tonight.
