Australians will know who will form government as early as today, after the three Independent MPs spent the weekend analysing the information they gleaned over the past fortnight of talks.
Labor revealed Prime Minister Julia Gillard had signed on to a list of parliamentary reforms proposed by Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, but the Coalition has expressed concerns about some details in a move that has the potential to further delay an outcome.
Mr Oakeshott and Queensland MP Bob Katter spent the weekend in Canberra, while New England MP Tony Windsor returns to parliament today after a few days back in his electorate.
They have no more formal meetings scheduled and after several days of consideration hope to make and reveal their decision today, but say it could come tomorrow.
Labor, which made deals with the Greens and Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie last week, needs two more votes to reach the 76 needed to form government, while the Coalition - which has 73 seats - needs all three.
For more on this story, including comments from Health Minister Nicola Roxon on the likely outcome of the independents' deliberations, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.
Email a friend