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After more than two weeks of waiting, Australians are likely to know who their next government will be today.
Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter are finalising their negotiations with both sides of politics and are expected to announce today if they will back Labor or the Coalition.
Last night on ABC 1's Q&A program Mr Katter said he was still waiting on some answers from the party leaders, but said it would not stop him making a decision today.
“I would think that for myself personally I would most certainly be in a position to make a decision tomorrow morning”" he said last night.
"Both sides have had their chances and they'll have to go on what they've put forward.”
Yesterday the independents secured bipartisan support for parliamentary reforms including an independent speaker, time limits on questions and answers and an”"acknowledgment of country” at the start of every parliamentary sitting day.
Mr Oakeshott wanted the parliamentary reform deal struck before he would announce his position on which party should form government, and Mr Windsor has indicated the agreement brings that next step closer.
“This is a great moment in my view and I think in the next few days we'll see some other great moments occur,” Mr Windsor said.
Shortly after the men made the reform announcement, West Australian Nationals MP Tony Crook confirmed he would side with the Coalition in response to demands that he publicly declare who he will back to form government.
In a released statement, Mr Crook said he would support the Coalition in matters of supply, but will sit on the cross benches.
Mr Oakeshott had said before he could make a decision on who he would back, he needed Mr Crook to clearly state who he was supporting.
“We just need to see some direction from Mr Crook as to exactly what his position is on this question of confidence and supply so we can make a genuine decision,” Mr Oakeshott said.
Last week Labor secured the vote of both Melbourne Greens MP Adam Bandt and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie.
If the three independents back the Coalition, Tony Abbott would have the minimum 76 votes he would need in parliament. If they support Labor, Julia Gillard would have 77 votes.
The three men have said they will try to work together to avoid a 75-75 stalemate.
Mr Oakeshott yesterday said if a deadlock did occur, one of them may have to reconsider their choice in order to ensure a stable minority government is formed.
“It does look like we may have to make some choices about whether we stick together to get stable government or not,” he said.
It is a position Mr Windsor has also endorsed.
“People may be leaning one way, but they may have to come back the other way to get some stability into the system,” Mr Windsor said.
Mr Katter put a list of 20 issues to both party leaders and said his decision will be based on which one gives the best response.
“You give me that and you'll get the gong as prime minister of Australia, and if you don't you won't,” he said on Q&A.
Mr Windsor has also presented both sides with a list of demands which includes a regional development plan to be driven from the prime minister's office.
“I think it's very significant, because it really does deal with equity issues right across Australia,” he said.
