Labor's candidate in the NSW seat of Macquarie has claimed victory over her Liberal rival, leaving only one seat still in doubt.
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On Tuesday afternoon, Labor MP Susan Templeman was 354 votes ahead of the Liberals' Sarah Richards, according to figures posted on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
"We are still a really strong, viable opposition who will be able to refine policies, (and) will be able to hold the government to account," Ms Templeman told ABC television
The win leaves Tasmania's Bass still to be conceded or formally declared, with Liberal candidate Bridget Archer leading Labor incumbent Ross Hart by 562 in the latest figures.
In total, the Liberal-National coalition is expected to govern with a slim 77-seat majority, compared to Labor with a likely 68 seats. There are six crossbenchers.
So far, 48 lower house seats have been formally declared out of 151.
The AEC cannot officially declare a result until it is mathematically impossible for the margin to be overtaken.
With Senate vote counting continuing, the 76-seat upper house to start on July 1 is likely to comprise 35 coalition, 26 Labor, nine Greens, two One Nation, two Centre Alliance, one Australian Conservatives and Jacqui Lambie from Tasmania.
Australian Associated Press
