Independent Kerryn Phelps remains favourite to win the Wentworth by-election, despite a late surge in postal votes over the weekend appeared to show a comeback scenario was possible for Liberal candidate Dave Sharma.
But the margin between the two candidates has since stabilised, and Dr Phelps is expected to win the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Liberal Senator Jane Hume says the Liberal Party is dissapointed, but ready to keep working.
((HUME))
(("The Wentworth by-election didn’t go our way, which is very sad. The people of Wentworth have expressed their anger and displeasure of the behaviour of the Liberal parliamentary team and that is their right to do so. We'll have to cop that on the chin*. Now our responsibility is to get on with the job."))
Dr Phelps has told Sky News she understands why people voted against the Liberals.
((PHELPS 1))
(("The biggest factor in this election has been dissatisfaction with the Liberal government, to be honest. I think there was a lot of anger and frustration with the direction that the Liberal government was taking -- and I represented that socially progressive and economically sensible of politics that people were wanting."))
If Dr Phelps is confirmed the winner of the by-election, there will be a crossbench of six members in the House of Representatives, with Labor holding 69 seats and the Coalition with 75 -- one seat short of a majority.
With Australia facing a hung parliament, a situation when no political party has an absolute majority, the votes of indpendents and minor parties become very valuable.
The intentions of those crossbenchers appear varied.
Andrew Wilkie and Greens M-P Adam Bandt ((bant)) want a federal election called immediately, while Bob Katter, Rebekha Sharkie and Cathy McGowan say the government should run their full term, which is likely end in the middle of next year when the Coalition is expected to call the federal election.
Ms McGowan says most people in her electorate of Indi ((IN-die)) are willing to wait.
((MCGOWAN))
(("I've been with this particular parliament for two and half years, and on behalf of my electorate, I have worked really hard to have this government be the best government they can be and it is absolutely my intention for this government to go their its full term. I believe in four-year fixed terms and I will be talking to everyone today about how we can do it."))
Observers say a big factor in the swing against the Liberals in Wentworth was their lack of policy on climate change and refugees.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Wilkie introduced a bill to the House of Representatives aiming to bring asylum seekers in the Nauru detention centre to Australia for medical attention.
Ms Sharkie and Mr Wilkie said they were confident they would have the numbers to pass the motion with Dr Phelps' support, if she was elected.
Dr Phelps told Sky News sponsoring that bill would be her first order of business.
((PHELPS 2))
(("If I am elected, and if the numbers go that way over the next few days, Ill be setting up conversations with as many people as I can. Certainly, I will be wanting to speak with the Prime Minister. My first move would be to get the kids and their families off Nauru."))
Dr Phelps says an independent body should decide whether the refugees should remain in Australia in the event they are brought to the country.
