Sixth WA senate seat still not known
Labor, the Australian Greens and the Palmer United Party (PUP) are each likely to have picked up one seat in WA's re-run senate election, while the Liberals have seized two seats - but it is the elusive sixth spot that has many on edge.
If the government's third candidate, Linda Reynolds, does not win, it will be the worst result for the Liberals in the WA senate for 25 years.
But if Labor's Louise Pratt loses, it will be a blow to the ALP, which has criticised the federal government's refusal to release its Commission of Audit report before the WA poll, which reportedly contains recommendations for savage budget cuts.
So far, 89.72 per cent of polling places have counted first preferences, showing a 5.49 per cent swing against the Liberals and a 4.83 per cent swing against Labor.
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Phil Diak from the Australian Electoral Commission told AAP it appeared voter turnout was at about 85 per cent, with more than one million votes already counted.
Counting was limited on Sunday but will resume at 11am (WST) on Monday, he said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott dismissed the swing against his party, noting candidates opposed to the carbon and mining taxes had "performed very strongly".
"There was absolutely nothing in this vote yesterday to suggest that the voters have suddenly decided they love the carbon or mining tax," he said in Tokyo.
But Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, who appears to have retained his seat, said the result was a "damning indictment" of a government that had only been in power for seven months.
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Sixth WA senate seat still not known