It is looking increasingly certain the coalition will be able to govern without needing the support of independent MPs to pass any disputed legislation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull looks like holding 76 or 77 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives.
That's a better result than seemed likely on election night but a far cry from the 90 seats the coalition held after the 2013 election.
In latest counting, the Queensland seat of Forde, which hung in the balance all week, went to the coalition with LNP MP Bert van Manem leading his Labor challenger by more than 900 votes.
Five seats remain in the balance with up to three likely going to the coalition, thanks to flows of postal votes which most favour sitting Liberal and Nationals members.
The Australian Electoral Commission will continue counting Senate votes on Sunday.
Counting of votes for lower house seats will continue to Friday, the deadline for arrival of the last postal votes.
