The Greens were toasting their new role as the ACT's kingmakers last night after tripling their representation in the Assembly and gaining the power to choose the next chief minister.
Labor and the Liberals have already begun courting their support in a bid to form government.
The Greens benefited from a swing against both major parties and a 6.6percentage point swing to them, which should be enough to give them a seat in each electorate.
Labor's vote plummeted by 9.3 points, meaning they will lose two seats, to the Greens. The Liberals have also suffered a swing against them, of 3.7percentage points, but will increase their representation by one by regaining the seat lost when they dumped former deputy leader Richard Mulcahy.
The latest indications suggest the two major parties will get seven seats each.
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope accepted his Government had taken a ''belting'' but claimed a mandate to keep his job.
''The party that the people of Canberra want to govern this community for the next four years is Labor ... We do need to accept that the people of Canberra have sent us a message ... and we will respond to the community over the next four years,'' he said. He looked forward to ''confirming'' Labor's mandate with the Greens.
New Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury who is hoping his party can get a second seat in Molonglo at the expense of the Liberals said negotiations would begin with the major parties soon. ''We've said all along we'll talk with both and nothing has changed tonight. In fact the vote is quite close.''
The Greens will also consider each party's policy package, with a focus on climate change, public transport, education and community consultation.
Opposition Leader Zed Seselja said he would be seeking the Greens' support to become chief minister. ''We believe that we have very sound environmental credentials and policies and we look forward to negotiations with the Greens over coming days.
''I believe that the community has voted for change and soundly rejected the Labor Party and it is now up to the new Assembly to reflect the will of the people.''
The electorate has also turned on several sitting members, most likely dumping four MLAs in addition to the four retiring.
Last night, Labor had 37.6 per cent of the vote across the ACT to the Liberals' 31.1 per cent and the Greens' 15.9 per cent.
New parties the Australian Motorist Party and Community Alliance are almost certain not to win a seat, and nor is former Queanbeyan mayor Frank Pangallo, although their preferences could determine some of the closer seats. Former radio host Mark Parton is still in with a slight chance in Ginninderra, but is unlikely to be elected.
It means it will likely be the second Assembly in a row formed initially entirely from the three largest established parties.
In Molonglo, Labor ministers Katy Gallagher, Andrew Barr and Simon Corbell will be re-elected, as will Opposition Leader Zed Seselja. It's likely Liberal Jeremy Hanson will win as well.
There is a small chance Mr Rattenbury could be joined by fellow Green Caroline le Couteur, although this seat should end up with the Liberals' Giulia Jones. Shadow health minister Jacqui Burke likely will not be re-elected.
Labor's strongest showing is in Ginninderra, where Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and MLA Mary Porter will remain in the Assembly. The Liberals are on track to get two seats: Alistair Coe and MLA Vicki Dunne. The Greens' Meredith Hunter should get the fifth seat here, from retiring Labor Speaker Wayne Berry.
Steve Doszpot is set to knock MLA Steve Pratt off and he will join Brendan Smyth as the Liberals' two representatives of Brindabella. Labor will also likely lose backbencher Mick Gentleman, who will be replaced by Joy Burch. John Hargreaves will keep his seat. The Greens' Amanda Bresnan is set to take the fifth seat, which had been held by Labor's retiring MLA Karin Macdonald.