The seat count at 11.45pm

THE SEAT COUNT AT 11.45pm (AEST)

COALITION 73

LABOR 66

GREENS 1

INDEPENDENT 4

IN DOUBT 6

TWO-PARTY PREFERRED VOTE (9 million votes counted)

COALITION 49.8pc

LABOR 50.2pc

3.3pc swing against the coalition.

STATE SWINGS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT

NSW 3.5pc

Victoria 1.8pc

Queensland 2.6pc

Western Australia 2pc

South Australia 3.9pc

Tasmania 8.8pc

LABOR PICKS UP COALITION SEATS

Eden-Monaro, Macarthur, Macquarie, Lindsay (NSW); Longman, Herbert (QLD); Bass, Braddon, Lyons (TAS); Solomon (NT); Hindmarsh (SA); Burt (WA).

COALITION ON TRACK TO PICK UP LABOR SEAT

Chisholm (VIC).

NICK XENOPHON TEAM PICKS UP

Mayo (SA) from the coalition.

TIGHT CONTESTS

Forde, Capricornia (QLD); Gilmore (NSW); Cowan (WA).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"We will not know the outcome of this election tonight. Indeed, we may not know it for some days to come. But there is one thing for sure - the Labor Party is back."

- Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

"We're on the cusp of being able to be returned to government. The Labor Party is not in a position to do that either in minority or majority. And they've had the second worst primary result in about 100 years."

- Treasurer Scott Morrison.

"A hung parliament is a live possibility."

- Cabinet minister George Brandis on Sky TV.