Now the work begins.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has finally claimed victory in retaining government a week after Australia went to the polls, but his challenges have just started.
He has to get a budget through a more fractured Senate at a time when global rating agencies are watching its progress and threatening to cut the nation's coveted triple-A rating if there is any delay in the timetable back to surplus.
"It is vital that this parliament works," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney shortly after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten conceded Labor had failed to gain enough seats to form government.
Mr Shorten believes the coalition has the numbers to pursue its policies and pledged Labor would work with the coalition where there was common ground between the parties.
But he said Labor would also stick to its core values.
"We also have a mandate to stand up for Medicare, to make sure schools are properly funded and to make sure we prioritise Australian jobs," he told reporters in Melbourne.
Senior Liberal Arthur Sinodinos expects the government will put every element of May's budget to parliament, saying the community has a role in getting the budget to surplus.
The budget includes the government's 10-year plan to cut business taxes and changes superannuation tax concession.
Senator Sinodinos downplayed suggestions the super changes turned some traditional Liberal voters away, insisting it was not a make-or-break issue.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the coalition also has three years to make sure people know that there is no intention whatsoever to privatise Medicare.
But he said you can only give Australians what they want if there is the money to pay for it. "You can only do that with strong economy and a strong set of books," he told Sky News.
But he said there are no policies to combat against people who lie, like Labor did in its Medicare scare campaign.
