Morrison set to form majority government

SYDNEY, May 20 (AP): Prime Minister Scott Morrison looked set on Monday to form a majority government as vote counting from Australia's weekend election allayed fears that his conservative coalition may have to rule in the minority following its shock victory.

The coalition was returned to power in a stunning result on Saturday, after opinion polls and odds-makers had tipped the opposition Labor Party to win. The outcome ranks as Australia's biggest election upset since 1993, when Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating was returned to power.

With 76 seats in the House of Representatives needed for majority rule, figures from the Australian Electoral Commission on Monday showed that with around 84 per cent of votes counted, the coalition was on target to win 78 seats - an increase of five after going into the election as a minority government.

The Labour Party was set to claim 67 seats, with independents and minor parties taking six.

Winning a majority of the seats would also allow Morrison's coalition to appoint the house speaker from its own ranks.