Up in the air until clear picture emerges

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

* The Australian Electoral Commission resumes counting votes on Tuesday.

* There could be up to 1.5 million postal votes to count between now and Friday week.

* The final result in some seats may not be known until then.

* The Senate count could take at least a month to finalise.

* The Turnbull government continues to operate in caretaker mode until it or Labor can show the governor-general either has a majority in the House of Representatives or has support for supply from the crossbench.

* If neither party can show it has the required support, the government could test its minority status on the floor of parliament by seeking the confidence of the lower house.

* If that fails, Labor could do likewise.

* If Labor failed to win confidence, the governor-general would be obliged to call a second election.

* Only the House of Reps would be subject to another poll.

* The new parliament is expected to begin sitting in early August.