{{Tony Abbott’s Liberal-National coalition appears on course for a decisive election win, as voting ended in Australia’s eastern states.}}
Early counting showed a swing to the opposition coalition in several states, with exit polls forecasting it would secure a lower house majority.
Public broadcaster ABC’s analyst has called the election for the coalition.
The campaign has been dramatic, with Kevin Rudd ousting Julia Gillard as PM and Labor leader weeks from the polls.
The economy, asylum and the carbon tax have been key election issues.
Mr Rudd called the election after defeating Julia Gillard in a leadership challenge in June, amid dismal polling figures that showed Labor on course for a wipe-out.
Under Mr Rudd, Labor initially saw its figures improve significantly. But Mr Abbott, who enjoyed the strident support of Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers, then broadened the gap again.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s election expert, Antony Green, says the coalition is on course for a majority and will defeat the government.
A Newspoll exit poll, released just over an hour before polling closed in the east of the country, predicted that the coalition would secure 97 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives. ABC News, in its first prediction, put that figure at 93.
Labor’s Defence Minister Stephen Smith, speaking on ABC television minutes after polls closed in the east, said the government “will be defeated tonight”.
Mr Abbott, who took on the leadership of the coalition in 2009, cast his ballot in his northern Sydney seat of Warringah early on Saturday.
ABC
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