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Australia PM declares victory in general elections, vote counting continues

Sunday, 10 July 2016 6:41 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 10 July 2016 7:02 AM ]

Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses a press conference, in Sydney, July 5, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared victory in general elections despite ongoing vote counting.

“We’ve won the election, that’s what we’ve done,” Turnbull told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

“Earlier today, (opposition Labor leader) Bill Shorten called me and congratulated me on being re-elected as prime minister,” he added.

Votes are still being counted. The elections were held last Saturday.

Shorten conceded defeat earlier in the day and said, “It is clear that Mr. Turnbull and his coalition will form a government.”

Turnbull’s ruling Liberal/National coalition is currently projected to secure 74 seats, and potentially two more, in the 150-seat House of Representatives, enough to give him the mandate to form a minority government.

Temporary Australian Electoral Commission workers count votes in Sydney, July 5, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Turnbull has won the support of three independent MPs on budget matters and on votes of no confidence.

Five independents have been elected in the elections so far.

Labor has secured 66 seats.

Turnbull had dissolved both houses of the parliament in May and called for snap elections, confident that his ruling coalition would clinch an outright win.

He had ousted then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a party coup last year.

The polls backfired, however, as he lost the government’s majority in the House of Representatives — the lower house of the parliament — in the Saturday snap polls.

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