Labor will form new govt in Australia

SYDNEY, May 21 (BBC/AFP): Labor will form the next government in Australia after the Liberal-National coalition has failed to win enough seats.
But it is still not clear whether it will be a majority leadership or in coalition with independents and other parties.
Anthony Albanese will be the country's new prime minister overseeing the first Labor government in almost a decade.
Independents have also done well in the election so far, amid public dissatisfaction with the two major parties.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted defeat in national elections Saturday after a "difficult night" for his conservative government.
"Tonight I have spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and I have congratulated him on his election victory," Morrison said.
The 54-year-old outgoing leader noted that voter support for major parties had fallen in the election.
"I think about the upheaval that is taking place in our nation, and I think it is important for our nation to heal and to move forward," he said.
Morrison's voice cracked with emotion as he thanked his wife Jennifer and his daughters, "the loves of my life".
"I have no doubt under strong leadership of our coalition, three years from now I am looking forward to the return of a coalition government."
With almost half the votes counted, Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor was projected to be the largest party in parliament, but was not yet assured of a clear majority.
After three years marked by punishing natural disasters and a pandemic, Australians backed a string of climate-focused candidates who could yet hold the balance of power.
The Australian Greens and so-called "teals"-mostly highly qualified women independents who ran on pro-environment, anti-corruption tickets and pro-gender equality tickets-appeared set to bag a series of once-safe conservative urban seats.
"People are saying the climate crisis is something they want action on," said an elated Greens leader Adam Bandt.
"We have just had three years of drought, and then fires and now floods and then floods again. And people can see it, that this is happening and it's unfolding."
If the early trends hold, Australians will end a decade of unbroken conservative rule.
Among the high-profile Liberals in deep trouble were economy minister Josh Frydenberg and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma, who were both trailing to "teal" candidates.
The long and often bitter campaign had focused on the character of the two leaders, with policy largely put on the back burner.
But young Australians are increasingly angry at the government's pro-coal policies, a housing market that is largely out of reach, and the misuse of taxpayers' money.