Sydney - Australia's Labor Party is all set to end almost a decade of conservative rule as the current government, after the Liberal-National coalition has failed to win enough seats.
Anthony Albanese, leader of the Labor party, will be the country's new prime minister overseeing the first Labor government in almost a decade. Current PM, Scott Morrison will step down as the leader of the Liberal Party.
With 60% of the vote counted, Labor had 72 seats and Morrison's coalition 55. Independents and the Greens held 11, the Australian Broadcasting Corp projected. A further 13 seats remained in doubt.
Counting will resume on Sunday morning, postal votes will also start to be counted tomorrow.
The Greens and a group of so-called "teal independents", who campaigned on policies of gender equality and tackling climate change, led by a wave of support, tapping voter anger over inaction on the environment after some of the worst floods and fires to hit Australia.
Albanese, speaking as he headed to his party celebrations, said he wanted to unite the country and "end the climate wars". He told his supporters in Sydney that his government would be “as courageous and hard working and caring as the Australian people”.
It is still remains to be clear whether the next government will be a majority leadership or in coalition with independents and other parties.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to Twitter to congratulate new Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.
Albanese is expected to be swiftly sworn in as prime minister, before travelling to Tokyo on Tuesday, where he will meet the US president Joe Biden, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida.