Labor has successfully formed a minority federal government after clinching the support of independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.
After 17 days of uncertainty, regional NSW MPs Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott finally decided to throw their support behind the Labor Party.
The decision will see Julia Gillard remain as prime minister after taking a narrow margin in the House of Representatives, 76 to 74.
Queensland independent Bob Katter announced his decision to back the Coalition in a hung parliament in an interview with journalists in his Canberra office earlier this afternoon.
Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor announced their decision at a press conference at 3pm today AEST.
In what he described as a very difficult decision, Mr Oakeshott said he had dealt with splits in the community and splits in his family on which party to back.
“It is not a mandate for anyone, nor is it an endorsement,” Mr Oakeshott said.
Mr Oakeshott said he was “thoroughly unimpressed” with the political parties in Australia.
Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott had been negotiating with both Ms Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott since the August 21 election.
“I want to thank both leaders for the way they’ve treated us during this process,” Mr Windsor said before announcing his decision.
Both leaders made their final pitches to the independents today.
Labor required just two of the three MPs to form a minority government, while the coalition required all three.
I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY OUT OF ORDER AND NOT PROPER FOR 5 VOTERS TO HAVE THE POWER OVER THE MILLIONS OF OTHER VOTERS IN CHOOSING WHO WILL RUN THE COUNTRY——THIS IS AN OUT DATED AND SILLY SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE KNOCKED OFF ASAP. IF FACT THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS WRONG—-THERE SHOULD BE A TWO THIRDS VOTE COUNT FOR ANY PARTY TO RULE.—-I CAN SEE THREE YEARS OF CONTINUAL FIGHTING COSTING MILLIONS IN TIME AND MONEY===AND THE COUNTRY AT A STAND STILL MOST OF THE,,,TIME.. AUSTRALIA IT S TIME TO SHAPE UP.