In national news, Scott Morrison’s liberal national party has been awarded a majority government holding 76 seats, although four are still in doubt.
Half of the remaining seats are predicted to be won by the coalition in the house of representatives, taking their tally to 78 seats, a result popular opinion polls and commentators failed to foresee.
Reaching this majority government checkpoint allows the coalition to pass controversial legislation without support from independent MPs, should no MPs cross the floor.