DHAKA: Australia will not know the result of its national election for days as well as in tight seats continues.

Twelve out of 150 lower house seats remain in suspicion, with counting of pre-poll, postal and absentee votes to resume on Tuesday.

The official Australian Electoral Commission tally has Labor on 67 seats and the ruling Liberal-National coalition on 66 seats, BBC reports on Sunday (July 3).

Independents and minor parties gained an unprecedented share of the vote.

Analysts expect the remaining ballots to fall in favor of the government and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that he expected to get the 76 seats he needs to form a new administration.

But many analysts are predicting a hung parliament, where neither party has an absolute majority.

In that case, both Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten will have the chance to form government by doing a deal with independents and minor parties.

Shorten said in a speech that Turnbull's coalition had lost its mandate to govern.

BDST: 0930 HRS, July 3, 2016
SAS/AKA