Canberra - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who led a
trailing conservative coalition, secured his return to power in a
surprise election win on Saturday.
Morrison's coalition came out on top despite all public opinion
surveys and even the exit polls predicting victory for the opposition
Labor party in the national parliamentary elections.
"I have always believed in miracles. I'm standing with the three
biggest miracles of my life here tonight and tonight we have been
delivered another one," said the 51-year-old evangelical Christian,
flanked by his wife and two young daughters, shortly after Labor
leader Bill Shorten conceded defeat.
"How good is Australia? And how good are Australians?" Morrison said
after being given a hero's welcome by hundreds of Liberal Party
supporters at their campaign headquarters in Sydney. He dedicated the
victory to the "quiet Australians," saying "it's always been about
them."
Morrison's coalition is projected to win 74 seats, two short of a
majority in the 151-seat House of Representatives, while Labor is
likely to win 66 seats, with 72 per cent of ballots counted, an
Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) told dpa by phone.
Several seats in Australia's lower house of parliament are still in
doubt, while six are likely to be taken by independent candidates or
smaller parties, including the Greens.
Morrison may have to seek help from them to form a minority
government.
The AEC said it would resume counting on Sunday.
Earlier Saturday, Shorten conceded defeat in the election and
resigned as leader of the Labor party.
"It is obvious that Labor will not be able to form the next
government," Shorten told his supporters in Melbourne.
"I wish we could have won for the true believers, for our brothers
and sisters in the mighty trade union movement," said the
52-year-old, who is himself a former trade unionist.
Despite the conservative coalition's electoral win, the government
was dealt a blow when former prime minister Tony Abbott lost his
northern Sydney seat after holding it for 25 years. The Liberal
politician was unseated by a former Olympian, Zali Steggall, who
campaigned as an independent on climate change issues.
More than 16 million voters were enrolled to vote in Australia, where
voters must cast a ballot or face a 20-dollar (14-US-dollar) fine.
Morrison campaigned on a platform of stability and better economic
management, while his opponent Shorten promised to act on climate
change and tax reforms.
Former Liberal prime minister John Howard said class warfare and
"climate ideology" had cost Labor this year's federal election.
"Australians believe in egalitarianism. They reject the politics of
class division," he told Australian broadcaster ABC.
The 36-day election campaign was filled with drama, including an
attempted egging of the prime minister and the disendorsement or
resignation of at least nine candidates due to various scandals.
Morrison took on the role of prime minister nine months ago after a
back-room revolt against his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull.
Australia has not seen a prime minister complete an entire three-year
term since 2007 due to a series of internal leadership coups in the
country's two major parties.
But both parties have now changed their party regulation to make it
harder to oust a sitting prime minister.