Australia Election Results: Scott Morrison set to return as PM with shocking majority

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National coalition was close to securing a shocking majority as votes for the final election results were being counted. According to the Australian Election Commission, Morrison’s conservative coalition was leading with 77 seats, one more than the majority numbers needed to govern in the 151-member lower house.

The victory of Morrison was shocking to many and to himself as well as most of the exit polls had predicted a Labor Party win. In fact, in his victory speech, he told reporters: "I've always believed in miracles."

Thanking “the quiet Australians”, Morrison indicated he will also make promised income tax cuts a priority. “It’s been those Australians who have worked hard every day, they have their dreams, they have their aspirations, to get a job, to get an apprenticeship, to start a business, to meet someone amazing,” he said.

How good is Australia! How good are Australians! Thank you! 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/i41QRz5Roz

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) May 18, 2019

“To start a family, to buy a home, to work hard and provide the best you can for your kids. To save for your retirement. These are the quiet Australians who have won a great victory tonight!”

However, Morrison’s coalition will not hold a majority in the Senate, the upper house, and will need the support of independents and minor parties to pass new bills.

The Labor Party conceded the defeat and its leader Bill Shorten, taking responsibility of their Centre-Left coalition’s loss, stepped down from the post but said that their fight will go on.

"Saturday wasn't Labor's night but the sun still came up the next morning. The fight goes on and the cause that we champion, equality of opportunity for all Australians, endures. We can't change the past but we can change the future and that's what politics is all about," Shorten wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.