Prime Minister Anthony Albanese looks to finalise his frontbench as Labor inches closer to forming a majority government.
Look back at all of Wednesday's developments with our blog.
Key events
- The ABC's election computer projects Liberal Party to retain Sturt in SA
- Barnaby Joyce's leadership of the Nationals in doubt
- Penny Wong to fly to Fiji tomorrow
- More Australians eligible for a fourth COVID shot
- 'We are inheriting very serious economic challenges', Treasurer says
- Former home affairs minister grilled on handling of asylum seeker boat text
- Karen Andrews says Peter Dutton would be standing for Liberal leadership 'unopposed'
- Former Liberal MP says Scott Morrison was a drag on the party's vote
- Election results show 'a lot of challenges to the traditional two-party system', Treasurer says
- Jim Chalmers 'more confident' than earlier in the week that Labor will form a majority
- Incoming Country Liberals Senator says Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be 'another way of dividing us'
- Liberal Senator says party's new leadership team needs 'a woman in the mix'
Live updates
By Bridget Judd
We're going to leave the blog here for today
Thanks for your company throughout the day, we'll be back tomorrow as more votes are counted.
Until then, you can follow the latest with the remaining seats as it happens here, and you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news here.
By Bridget Judd
How will the Labor government shape foreign policy on China?
But a change in government has brought a sense of cautious optimism that tensions can be tempered.
On Monday, China's government broke a more than two-year freeze on contact with Australian ministers, sending a congratulatory message to new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Professor James Laurenceson from the UTS Australia-China Relations Institute says an improved trajectory is possible, but he doesn't expect a "reset".
"Labor's approach for dealing with this challenge is different to the Morrison government's – less bombastic talk, more practical action, and more emphasis on non-hard power responses like diplomacy," Professor Laurenceson told the ABC's Annika Burgess and Michael Li.
Pichamon Yeophantong, a senior lecturer at UNSW Canberra, agreed that there would be a change in rhetoric that would be "less provocative, more restrained".
"However, I think there are still limitations regarding what extent a change in tone would help to address some of the more structural and fundamental issues that underlie tensions," Dr Yeophantong said.
"It's not just about the rhetoric, it is also about making those concrete policy steps to rebuild essentially trust within this bilateral relationship."
By Bridget Judd
What's going on in Wannon?
Hi, are you able to explain what is happening to the count in Wannon - ABC has listed the seat to the LIBs but AEC is doing a recount?
-Von
Afternoon, Von.
While Liberal Dan Tehan is ahead with roughly 38,000 votes, fewer than 900 votes currently separate independent Alex Dyson and Labor's Gilbert Wilson.
That's why the Wannon count was stopped and restarted — something that doesn't often happen in an election.
"It's unusual but it usually happens when it's unclear who the final count of preferences will be between," ABC chief election analyst Antony Green said.
"To do an indicative preference count you have to be certain who's finishing first and second and it was unclear who was finishing second.
"So, they did what's called a three-candidate throw to try and determine whether the preferences of other candidates would play a part in determining who finishes second and third.
Mr Green said he had expected the Liberals to claim victory in Wannon by now.
"I'm quite surprised, I presume Dan Tehan is just waiting for someone else to concede they can't win," he said.
"It's pretty clear that Dan Tehan has won the seat."
By Bridget Judd
Pacific analyst says Penny Wong will be trying to leverage Australia-Fiji relationship
Pacific analyst Anna Powles, from Massey University in New Zealand, said the visit — coming "hot on the heels of the Australian election and Quad meeting in Tokyo" — sent "a strong signal that the Albanese government intends to hit the ground running in resetting relations with the Pacific".
"This also gives Wong an opportunity to meet with secretary-general Puna and the Pacific Islands Forum, given the leaders meeting due to be held in early June has been delayed," she told the ABC's Stephen Dziedzic and Richard Ewart.
"Wong will be seeking to leverage the increasingly robust Australia-Fiji relationship."
Dr Powles said the Foreign Minister "may also be seeking to form a clearer regional response to the China-Solomon Islands security deal, working closely with Prime Minister Bainimarama".
Tess Newton Cain, from the Pacific Hub at the Griffith Asia Institute, said Senator Wong was "following through" on her promise to visit the region soon.
"I see this as a high-risk strategy with the potential to deliver high reward," she told the ABC.
"The Foreign Minister spoke earlier in the week of how the Albanese government wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with Pacific partners. This is her first opportunity to walk the talk."
By Bridget Judd
Which seats are still in doubt?
Labor is two seats away from forming a majority government.
And four days on from Saturday’s election, five seats remain in doubt.
This is how things are looking on a national level at the moment.
And when will counting finish?
Australian Electoral Commission staff have been sorting and counting votes since polls closed on May 21.
However, alongside the votes made in person, there has also been a mountain of postal votes to sort through, with many of these taking up to two weeks to arrive before being counted.
Which is why these postal votes could be vital in determining the outcome in some extremely close seats.
By Bridget Judd
What's happening with the Nationals leadership?
The National party spills its leadership positions after every federal election and typically the existing leader is re-elected unopposed.
But the party is again divided on issues such as climate change and the Coalition's net zero policy, especially after the overwhelming support for teal independents at the weekend's election.
David Littleproud, who is being encouraged by some of his colleagues to mount a challenge for the leadership, has been one of the party's stronger advocates for action on climate change and established a biodiversity stewardship program designed to reward farmers for looking after the land.
New South Wales senator Perin Davey stopped short of declaring who she would support in a ballot but said "it will be interesting to see who puts their hands up".
By Bridget Judd
The ABC's election computer projects Liberal Party to retain Sturt in SA
James Stevens is projected to retain the seat after pulling ahead of Labor candidate Sonja Baram.
Mr Stevens first won the electorate in 2019 following the retirement of Christopher Pyne.
It had a 6.9 per cent margin in 2019, putting it outside the realm of what is usually considered a marginal seat.
Since its creation, Sturt has only spent two terms in Labor hands, the first 1954-55 and the second 1969-72.
By Bridget Judd
Solomon Islands MP says Chinese foreign minister's tour of the Pacific timed to coincide with Quad meeting
A Solomon Islands official says China's decision to send its foreign minister on a 10 day tour of the Pacific was likely timed to coincide with the Quad meeting in Japan.
The Tokyo meeting brought together the leaders of the US, Australia, India and Japan to discuss issues like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's expanding influence.
There are reports China is working on security pacts with two other Pacific nations, similar to the one recently signed with Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands Opposition MP, Peter Kenilorea, says the timing of the visit is linked.
"This visit was something that was talked about not that long ago as well. And I think was in line with preparations for the Quad meeting. I see very much a correlation there."
By Bridget Judd
How would a federal ICAC decide on cases?
The Federal ICAC will be independent. How does it decide on cases to prosecute? Is it triaged? Are the cases referred to them? By who?
-Mick Mundy
Afternoon, Mick.
Labor says it will create a National Anti-Corruption Commission by the end of the year, which will cover alleged corruption by politicians and by public servants.
Labor's model would have public hearings for everyone — including politicians — unless there was a good reason not to.
As for how it would decide on cases, the commission would have the power to start its own investigations, rather than having to wait for a matter to be referred "from whistleblowers and complaints from the public".
It would also be able to investigate things that happened in the past.
By Bridget Judd
Dave Sharma says he did not approach Frydenberg to lead
Mr Sharma was also asked how long the discontent toward Mr Morrison was evident at least within his own electorate.
"I think it's been around since at least the third quarter of last year or even midway through last year," he said.
He was asked if he was one of a group of moderates who, as first reported by the Nine Newspapers, approached Mr Frydenberg and urged him to challenge Mr Morrison for the leadership in September last year.
Mr Frydenberg refused and declared his loyalty to the prime minister.
Despite acknowledging Mr Morrison's popularity decline with voters in Wentworth, Mr Sharma said he was not part of the group that approached the former treasurer.
"I think my own view at the time … we and the Labor party had changed leaders often enough mid-term to know that this didn't usually end well so my view was, and remains, that we should stick with the leader we've got and take them to the election," he said.
"If an electorate pronounces a verdict so be it."
By Bridget Judd
Barnaby Joyce's leadership of the Nationals in doubt
The ABC understands Mr Littleproud has not been actively canvassing his colleagues but has the support of almost half of them.
Privately Mr Littleproud's backers say he is the best person to "unite the party" as the Coalition tries to rebuild itself in opposition.
They have also said Mr Joyce has told them he would consider stepping aside in 18 months to make way for a new leader.
Mr Joyce still enjoys strong support in the party room with former resources minister Keith Pitt publicly backing him to remain as leader, and several others telling the ABC they are "struggling" to find a reason for change.
Mr Joyce told the ABC he will "definitely" nominate for the leadership, even if there is a challenge. But he stressed he was "completely at ease with the democratic process."
"We need someone tough to negotiate the Coalition agreement and I've proven I can do that," he said.
"Don't forget that people voted for us on the premise that I would be there after the election. And we held all our seats."
Read the full story by national regional affairs reporter, Lucy Barbour
By Bridget Judd
What is the significance of Penny Wong's visit to Fiji?
Senator Wong will make the visit less than 24 hours after returning to Australia from the Quad leaders meeting in Tokyo, where she joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Her visit to Fiji coincides with the beginning of the whirlwind Pacific tour by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is meeting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara tomorrow.
The ABC's Foreign Affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic says there is "a clear signal that Australia wants to continue to place the Pacific as its number one strategic priority".
"And it is also a recognition of the fact that Australia is now facing much stiffer competition than it once did in the region, in particular from China which is expanding commercial links... as well as, increasingly, security links with the region.
"There is a clear symbolism from Penny Wong that she is going to Fiji."
By Bridget Judd
Dai Le: 'Over the last few days, the Labor Party has been trying to smear me'
In her Australian Electoral Commission candidate declaration submitted in April, Ms Le said she had never been a citizen of another country.
However, the Western Sydney local was born in Vietnam to a Vietnamese mother.
Political candidates are required to take active steps to renounce any claim to foreign citizenship before applying to become a federal candidate.
In a statement on Facebook, Ms Le said she was a victim of a smear campaign by the Labor party and insisted she was not a citizen of another country.
By Jessica Riga
When can the Biloela family go home?
Reporter: you said previously that you wanted the Biloela family to get home to Biloela as seen as possible. Do you know when that will be?
Jim Chalmers: As the interim Home Affairs Minister I've made some substantial progress on this in the last day or two. I hope to have a conversation with the Prime Minister when he returns from his international trip and obviously there are a series of steps that I would need to appropriately take in order to give effect to our long-held view that that family must get home to Biloela, to the warm embrace of one of the most wonderful Queensland towns.
If you will forgive me a moment of parochialism as a Queenslander born and bred, I am so sick and tired of Queensland being caricatured as a certain way when it comes to some of these issues. I warms the heart to see the way that that town of Biloela has gotten around this beautiful family and campaigned long and hard for this family to be returned to their home in Biloela where they are making such a terrific contribution to the local community.
I have made some progress on this. I have received advice that I sought almost immediately having been appointed the interim Minister for Home Affairs. I hope to be able to announce progress on this case very, very soon.
By Jessica Riga
By Jessica Riga
Penny Wong to fly to Fiji tomorrow
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will fly to Fiji tomorrow on her first stand alone overseas trip in her new role.
Senator Wong will make the visit less than 24 hours after returning to Australia from the Quad leaders meeting in Tokyo, where she joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Her visit to Fiji coincides with the beginning of the whirlwind Pacific tour by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is meeting Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara tomorrow.
By Jessica Riga
By Jessica Riga
As Treasurer, what is Jim Chalmers long-term goal?
"We are not interested in going back to those commitments we took to prior elections and were ruled out," Jim Chalmers says.
"Our priority is multinational tax reform. There are really welcome developments around the world when it comes to that and we want Australia to be part of that. We want multinationals to pay their fair share of tax here in Australia so they can help fund the services that people desperately need and deserve in this country. That is our priority on tax reform.
"More broadly, and Katy and I work closely together as a team on the budget, our aspiration, our objective is to make sure that Australians actually get bang for buck for the taxes that they pay in the budget. We think it will take generations to pay down $1 trillion in debt but we want there to be a generational dividend for all that debt that has been racked up. So the first step, the most important step initially, is to try and take some of the unproductive spending and make it productive spending and obviously beyond that there is a substantial task of budget repair."
By Jessica Riga
Jim Chalmers on the Liberal Party's asylum seeker boat text
"First of all on asylum seeker policy, these guys can't help themselves," Jim Chalmers says.
"They are always looking to politicise what are serious matters of national security and border security. I think Australians have had enough of that. It was terribly disappointing from our point of view to see the way that the government in its dying hours attempted to publicise and politicise and send those text messages out about border security.
"Australians know, and the people smugglers know, that we remain committed to Operation Sovereign Borders and the activity that has happened in the last couple of days has been entirely consistent with that and the message we sent to the people smugglers is that people shouldn't begin that dangerous journey because they will be processed in the same way after Saturday as they were before Saturday."
By Jessica Riga
How quickly does Beijing have to get rid of these trade sanctions to make sure repairing relations with Beijing is even a possibility?
"Clearly I'm not going to make foreign policy from this lectern," Jim Chalmers says.
"There are conversations that need to be made with Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese and the National Security Committee, but we've made it very clear that our highest priority in the region is stability in the region and that's why Anthony and Penny flew to the Quad meeting almost immediately having been sworn in.
"And the China relationship is a complex one that's becoming more so because of China's actions. China has become more aggressive and more assertive and our responsibility as the incoming government is to manage that complex relationship in a considered and sober fashion.
"If there is to be an improvement in relations it makes sense to us for the first part of that, the first step, to be the removal of some of those sanctions and tariffs which are doing damage to our economy and to our employers and exporters. That would be a good place to start."
