Minor parties have improved their position in the Senate by at least three seats, according early counting last night.
One Nation has won a seat in Queensland, taking it from the Democrats. Its only other hope is a seat in NSW in a tight finish with the Democrats.
Tasmanian independent Senator Brian Harradine will probably squeak back on One Nation preferences in Tasmania in a tight finish with the Greens.
The Coalition has lost at least one Senate seat, in NSW, but possibly also one in WA (to the ALP) and one in Victoria to the Democrats. Labor has picked up a seat (probably from the Coalition) inVictoria.
The much-vaunted challenge by Democrat Rick Farley against Liberal Margaret Reid in the ACT came to nothing. As usual, the major parties won one seat each in each of the territories.
The Democrats have possibly gained a seat each in NSW, Western Australia and in Victoria. It may be, though, that the Democrats only get the seat of Democrats leader Meg Lees in South Australia. It depends on the long preference count and the vicissitudes of the order of exclusion of candidates.
The Greens could pick up a seat in Tasmania in Senator Harradine does not pick up enough preferences from One Nation, but has probably lost the seat of Dee Margetts in Western Australia. But much depends on the spill of preferences which is a very uncertain matter in the Senate.
The present Senate make up of 76 seats is: Coalition 37, Labor 29, Democrat 7, Green 2, Harradine 1.
The new Senate is: Coalition 35, Labor 29, Democrat 7, Green 1, One Nation 1 and three doubtful. The doubtfuls are the last seats in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. All the doubtful will go to minor parties (Democrat, Harradine, Green and One Nation), with the possible exception of the last seat in Victoria which could go to the Coalition.