Early Australian election vote count indicates close result

Minor parties and independents appeared to be taking votes from the major parties, which increases the likelihood of a hung parliament and a minority government

Citizens cast their votes at a polling booth in Sydney, Australia (Mark Baker/AP)

There was no uniform swing in early counting of votes in Australia’s election on Saturday, indicating a close result in a tight race that will decide whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative government can defy the odds and rule for a fourth three-year term.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labour Party ended the six-week campaign as a favourite to win its first election since 2007.