The vote count in Australia’s general election is proving closer than opinion polls had predicted, with the ruling conservative coalition appearing more likely to form a government than the favoured centre-left opposition party. Opposition Labour Party deputy leader Tanya Plibersek had said in early counting that she was “more cautiously optimistic than confident”, but she predicted a tighter result as counting progressed. It was not clear whether the results would be available by the end of vote counting on Saturday. “The good news is that there is every chance that the Liberal-National coalition has won this election,” he said. Mr Morrison, a 51-year-old former tourism marketer, said he had closed Labour’s lead in opinion polls during the five-week campaign and predicted a close result.

Source: Irish Independent May 18, 2019 12:00 UTC