Saturday 21 May 2022 12:43 PM Anthony Albanese WINS Australia federal election 2022 as Scott Morrison wiped ... trends now
Anthony Albanese will become the 31st Prime Minister of Australia by ending the Coalition's nine years in power in an bloodbath for Scott Morrison.
There is a two-party swing of 2.3 per cent from Liberal to Labor with eight Coalition seats looking set to switch to the ALP, including Chisholm and Higgins in Melbourne, Boothby in South Australia, Reid in Sydney and Robertson on the NSW Central Coast.
There was a massive swing against the Liberals in Western Australia with the seats of Swan, Pearce and Hasluck turning red.
The teal independents - funded by multi-millionaire climate investor - have won at least two Liberal seats, so far picking up North Sydney and Mackellar, and are ahead is several others.
The Greens have won the Brisbane seats of Griffith from Labor and Ryan from the Liberals, with a two per cent boost in their vote to 12 per cent.
Liberal heavyweight Josh Frydenberg is looking likely to lose his seat to independent Monique Ryan although Peter Dutton appears to have fended off a challenge from Labor's Ali France.
Labor supporters watch early election results at a reception at Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club in Sydney
Independent Dr Monique Ryan is greeted by her supporters (pictured) at the Auburn Hotel, in the seat of Kooyong, Melbourne
Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters (left) and Senate candidate Penny Allman-Payne react to favourable election results. The Greens may win two seats in Brisbane
Election analyst Anthony Green said: 'Labor will win more seats that the Coalition, but at the moment it is unclear whether Labor could get to a majority position.
'I can't see the Coalition getting to majority government on these numbers.'
'Teal' independent Zali Steggall held on to Warringah under challenge from Liberal women's sport campaigner Katherine Deves.
North Sydney Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman has conceded, with independent Kylea Tink ahead after seven per cent of the vote counted.
Independent Allegra Spender is ahead of Liberal Dave Sharma in Wentworth and independent Zoe Daniel is ahead of Liberal Tim Wilson in Goldstein.
Liberal Jason Falinski is projected to lose his Sydney seat of Mackellar to independent Sophie Scamps.
The ABC has so far called 46 seats for the Coalition, 62 for Labor and 7 for others. A total of 76 is required for a majority Government.
Former NSW minister Andrew Constance was ahead of Labor in Gilmore. The Labor seat on the NSW south coast is seen as a must-win for the Coalition. The Liberals looked set to hold the crucial Tasmanian seats of Bass and Braddon.
Former Labor Minister and power broker Graham 'Richo' Richardson has called the election result as a win for Labor following swings to the ALP in the Liberal-held seats of Reid and Bennelong.
Defence minister Peter Dutton casts his vote in his electorate of Dickson in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon
'We're home,' he said on Sky just before 7pm. 'Let's crack the champagne.'
The Greens were also ahead of Labor in the Brisbane seat of Ryan with a strong chance of ousting LNP MP Julian Simmonds after preferences.
Independent Dai Le was ahead of Kristina Keneally in the western Sydney seat of Fowler.
The United Australia Party vote was relatively high across the board - up to eight per cent in some seats.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said it looked as though several seats would change hands.
Scott Morrison (second right) kicked back in relaxed clothing in Kirribilli House after the polls closed
Meanwhile, a make-up artist was seen entering Anthony Albanese's home in Marrickville, inner-west Sydney
He said: 'Initial discussions about whether we might see seats changing hands in both directions are looking like that might well be the case tonight'.
Tanya Plibersek said the Labor seats of Dobell and Macquarie in regional NSW were looking good for the ALP.
After polls closed, Scott Morrison stripped off his suit and was seen in casual dress with a no-collar shirt and a jumper as he chatted to colleagues inside Kirribilli House in Sydney.
Meanwhile, a make-up artist was seen entering Anthony Albanese's home in Marrickville, inner-west Sydney.
Both leaders have function rooms in Sydney booked to make their concession or victory speeches.
Mr Morrison was hoping to win the Coalition a fourth straight term in office. High inflation and the rising cost of living are key issues.
Earlier on Saturday Australian voters in marginal seats were bombarded with an 11th hour text message from the Liberal Party about the arrival of two asylum seeker boats, just hours before polls closed.
Mr Morrison was accompanied by wife Jenny and daughters Lily and Abbey as he slipped his ballot into the box at Lilli Pilli Public School, Sydney's south, on Saturday
Mr Albanese addressed a crowd of excited supporters outside the polling booth in Marrickville promising he would remain 'one of the people'
The texts, which are being sent as a 'news alert' refer to an 'illegal' boat that was intercepted by Border Force officials allegedly trying to enter Australia.
'BREAKING: Australian Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Australia. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today,' the text read.
Mr Morrison also warned more people smugglers will come to Australia under a Labor government as the prime minister and Mr Albanese cast their votes.
A second boat was intercepted on Wednesday by the Sri Lankan Navy before it reached Australian waters.
Daily Mail Australia understands there have been up to 30 asylum seeker boats intercepted by ABF this year alone - none of which prompted a text message alert.
A fishing vessel carrying dozens of people (pictured) has been stopped by the Sri Lankan navy amid warnings that people smuggling could ramp up after election day
Labor has emerged as the favourite among bookies with payout rates dropping from $1.55 on Friday to $1.32 on Saturday.
The timing of the boat arrival prompted theories that the arrival of the boat was no accident and had somehow been planned ahead of time as an election stunt.
An unsolicited text message was sent to residents urging them to vote Liberal
Among those discussing the theory was 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who wrote that the boat arriving 'on the eve of an election' was 'a chilling a coincidence'.
'As well as being xenophobic,
