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Greens still hopeful of winning more seats

The Greens have claimed victory in the seat of Melbourne and believe they will retain their Senate team, amid an increase in their primary vote.

Richard Di Natale at the Greens election function
Richard Di Natale says the race isn't yet over for Greens in two Vic seats. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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The Greens believe they still have a shot at winning two key Victorian seats and can therefore determine who forms government.

The Greens are confident of retaining their Senate team amid an increase in their primary vote.

But whether they will be able to finally get a Greens friend in the House of Representatives for their sole lower house MP Adam Bandt remains to be seen.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale said the results in the Melbourne seats of Kooyong and Higgins are too close to call.

"Those two seats could determine who the next government of this country is," he told the Greens' election night function.

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"They could be the seats that form government.

"If Higgins and Kooyong become Greens seats, we could determine the fate of the country - and that is a live question right now."

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has claimed victory in Kooyong while the ABC's election analyst has predicted the Liberals will also retain Higgins.

Senator Di Natale believes the result in both seats will come down to pre-polled votes and that the result may not be known for days.

More than a third of voters in both seats voted early, he said.

Senator Di Natale said the result in Higgins was "absolutely lineball" and the party was still in the race in Kooyong.

He said an overwhelming number of preferences in that seat were going to the Greens, making it a two-horse race between the party's high-profile candidate Julian Burnside and Mr Frydenberg.

"Neither of those contests are over," Senator Di Natale said.

Mr Bandt claimed victory early in the seat of Melbourne, which he first won for the Greens in 2010.

The Greens increased their primary vote by about 0.3 of a per cent to 10.6 per cent, based on counting late Saturday night.

Senator Di Natale is confident the Greens will retain their strength in the Senate, where six of their nine senators are up for election.


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