Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged Sunday his embattled government would serve out a full term despite the conservative coalition looking set to lose its majority after a voter backlash in a crucial Sydney by-election. The Liberal-National coalition, which has a one-seat parliamentary majority, appeared headed for minority government status after a huge swing in a traditionally safe seat, fuelled by anger over the ousting of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
But despite the Liberal candidate conceding defeat Saturday after high-profile independent Kerryn Phelps captured an apparently insurmountable lead in the seat of Wentworth, the count has narrowed sharply as postal votes are counted. Phelps' lead of more than 54 percent under Australia's voting system - which allocates voters' second preferences if no candidate secures a majority - shrank Sunday to just over 50.61 percent, or 884 votes over her Liberal rival.
It rose late Sunday to a margin of 1,616 as routine recounts for several booths increased her lead. While most analysts said it appeared likely Phelps would hold on to the win, Prime Minister Scott Morrison struck a more upbeat tone. "If it (the margin) gets as close as 100 then an automatic recount is triggered under the normal rules," Morrison told reporters. "I am not saying it will get to that." The prime minister, who must call national elections by mid-May, acknowledged voter anger over political infighting in Canberra but said he was determined to stay on even if the coalition becomes a minority government. "Australian people expect governments to serve their term. We are elected to serve our term and that is what we are going to do," he said.
The by-election in the wealthy seat was triggered after Turnbull, the local MP, resigned after being toppled in a party coup in August. Turnbull had held the seat with a comfortable margin of 18 percent, but support for the Liberals tumbled over his treatment. Morrison signalled he was willing to work with minor parties and independents to address what Phelps said would be the first item on her agenda - removing refugee children held in Australian detention camps on the Pacific island nation of Nauru.
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