As the nation waits we take a look at the four Independents and the Green MP thrust into the spotlight because of a hung parliament.



Both major parties have begun negotiating to form a minority government, with the Prime Minister claiming Labor has the "best prospect" of offering stability while trumpeting the party's superior two-party preferred vote.

But the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, said the "savage swing" against Labor meant it had "lost its legitimacy" to govern - and the public now expected change.

Julia Gillard said the two-party preferred vote was a "critical" factor in the likely outcome, even though Labor has still only secured 70 seats, according to the Australian Electroal Commission.
Julia Gillard conducted a press conference at Treasury Place in Melbourne.

Julia Gillard conducted a press conference at Treasury Place in Melbourne. Photo: Andrew Meares

She said she had held talks today with all three rural independents, and Andrew Wilkie, who is a chance to win the Tasmanian seat of Denison from Labor.

Ms Gillard said she had also held face-to-face discussions with Greens leader Bob Brown and the Adam Bandt, the party's newly elected member for the seat of Melbourne.

The negotiations would take place "in good faith" with "propriety, integrity and diligence".

Ms Gillard said she would be assisted by the deputy prime minister, Wayne Swan, in seeking an agreement. She believed the rise in the vote for the Greens and independents reflected a desire for fundamental changes to the way politics was conducted.

‘‘They probably want to see more openness,’’ she said.

‘‘Now I am not going to preclude at this stage any of the good ideas that might flow from discussions to be had over the days ahead with the independents and with the Greens.

‘‘But I think the message from the Australian people is they do want to see a change to the way politics is conducted.’’

Mr Abbott said "it was almost inconceivable" that Labor could provide competent and stable government as it was "chroniclly divided and disfunctional".

‘‘It is historically unprecedented for a first-term government to receive the kind of rebuff that the Rudd-Gillard government received yesterday,’’ he said.

‘‘I think that the public expect a change of government as a result of yesterday’s result.’’

Mr Abbott said he had also talked with the three independents and the Greens leader, Senator, Bob Brown, and had left messages with other key players.

Ms Gillard refused to analyse the causes of Labor's collapse in votes, but appeared defiant in her determination to form government.

She looked tired, and her eyes were red. But she answered questions with her typical firmness, still insisting that hers was the positive agenda to fit the nation.

Ms Gillard, a former industrial lawyer, prides herself on her negotiating skills and looked determined to start putting them into action