Australia in limbo as parties vie for support

LEADERS of Australia’s two major political parties lobbied for support from independent lawmakers yesterday to stitch together the nation’s first minority government since World War II after the closest election in almost 50 years.

The ruling centre-left Labour Party haemorrhaged votes to the environment-focused Greens party as the government was punished for shelving plans to charge major polluting industries for every ton of carbon gas they emit.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who remains caretaker leader, said it was clear no party had won a majority of parliamentary seats in Saturday’s poll – the result of which may not be known for a week.