Labor and the Coalition are both hoping to woo a number of independent MPs in a bid to form a minority government, after neither party achieved a majority in Saturday's general election.
At-a-glance: Labor 71 Coaltion 71 Greens 1 Independents 3 (likely 4)
With Labor and the Coalition both short of 76 seats for a majority, a number of key independent MPs are now crucial to forming a minority government. They are:
* Bob Katter, MP for Kennedy, Queensland
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* Rob Oakeshott, MP for Lyne, NSW
* Tony Windsor, MP for New England, NSW
* Andrew Wilkie, likely independent MP, Denison, Tasmania
The Greens newly elected member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt also looks likely to be a key king-maker. Bandt has already signalled that he does not support the Coalition.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has seized the initiative to try to form government, beginning preliminary negotiations with the Australian Greens and independent MPs.
"It's my intention to negotiate in good faith an effective agreement to form government," Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.
Australia is facing the prospect of a hung parliament, the first since 1940, after neither Labor nor the coalition had the 76 seats to form government in their own right. A final result is unlikely to be known for days.
Ms Gillard claimed the mandate to form minority government on the basis Labor had the bigger two party preferred vote. She admitted it was clear neither party had earned the right to govern in its own right.
"(But) it now appears clear that Labor has won the two-party vote," she said.
Ms Gillard has already spoken by telephone to re-elected independents Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter, as well as a possible fourth independent, Andrew Wilkie in Tasmania.
She met Greens MP Adam Bandt, who snatched the seat of Melbourne from Labor, and party leader Bob Brown in Melbourne.
The prime minister will lead negotiations with the help of her deputy, Wayne Swan.
The independents have signalled a key consideration will be stable government, while Mr Bandt has previously indicated a preference to work with Labor.
Ms Gillard pointed out no party would be able to pass legislation in the Senate without the support of the Greens and the other major party.
"The question before all of us is this: which party is better able to form a stable and effective government in the national interest?
"Which party can proceed and process the business of the Australian people and get legislation passed though the parliament?"
While the Greens have indicated a willingness to talk to the coalition, expectations are that it would find it harder to work with the conservative party than with Labor.
