The SMH argues in its recent editorial that Australians have refused to give Mr Turnbull the mandate he needs to assert control over his party and get key laws through the Senate.
Australians have sent a loud and clear message of protest to all major parties.
While Labor under Bill Shorten lifted its primary vote by a laudable 1.97 per cent since 2013, this was still the party's second-lowest primary result since 1949.
Notably, the swing to minor parties and independents at this election was, at 2.74 per cent, greater than the swing to Labor.
Why?
Election 2016 will go down as yet another case of voters punishing politicians who fail to listen, abandon authenticity and betray trust.
In 2008 Kevin Rudd abandoned meaningful action on climate change - "the greatest challenge of a generation" - and voters turned off. In 2010 Julia Gillard broke her promise not to introduce a carbon tax - and she never recovered. In 2014 Tony Abbott introduced a budget of surprises and broken promises he had told voters they would never see.
And in 2016 Mr Turnbull's popularity slumped when he began to jettison, or at the very least shroud, his core beliefs, out of political expediency.
You do not have to agree with Pauline Hanson, Nick Xenophon, the Greens, Andrew Wilkie, Bob Katter, Jacqui Lambie and Cathy McGowan to respect that they have been rewarded at this election for being conviction politicians.
Their success means the nation faces days of uncertainty.
Even if the Coalition gains the smallest of majorities, the stability Mr Turnbull offered has been severely rocked. The conservatives in the Coalition will make increasing demands on Mr Turnbull and his leadership will be open to question.
Yet Mr Shorten may face a leadership challenge from Anthony Albanese.
Such intra-party uncertainty on both sides reflects how the two-party system is in turmoil as it struggles to meet the needs of increasingly angry voters.
2.74 per cent of people have turned away from the major parties.
The Herald supported the election of a Coalition government on the basis that a strong mandate for Mr Turnbull would empower him to deliver stability, a clear economic plan and return to his progressive principles. At this stage, it appears this close result has achieved none of that.
