First exit polls indicate Labor win in Australian election

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‍Exit polls in Australia's general election on Saturday pointed to a victory by the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP), AFP reported.

As the first polls closed, a Nine-Galaxy exit poll showed ALP led by Bill Shorten beating the governing Liberal coalition 52-48.

If accurate, the result will mark the ALP's return to power after six years in opposition.

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Counting has begun and the first results are expected within hours.

Some 16.5 million Australians were registered to vote at over 7,000 polling stations operated by the country's Electoral Commission.

Voting in Melbourne, Labor leader Bill Shorten was bullish about forming a majority government after a final poll before the election showed the lead for his party increasing.

"Today is the people's day," he said. "Be it buying a 'democracy sausage', the kids having a bit of a sugar cake or what have you, and voting," he added, referring to the tradition of serving grilled sausages on election day.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife cast their vote during Australia's general election in Sydney, May 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

"In the event that the people of Australia voted to stop the chaos and voted for action on climate change, we will be ready to hit the ground from tomorrow."

Weeks ago, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had been heading for an electoral drubbing.

But he closed the gap with a negative campaign and backing from the country's biggest media organization – owned by Rupert Murdoch – mainly targeting older, wealthier voters who face fewer tax breaks under Labor.

After casting his vote in the Sydney suburbs, Morrison acknowledged the challenge his coalition faced, saying: "I don't take anyone's support in this country for granted."

"Australians know very well what it is we are saying in terms of keeping our economy strong, keeping our budget under control ... keeping Australians safe and secure," he said, hitting the conservatives' key talking points against Labor.

(Top image: Leader of the opposition Bill Shorten talks to locals at Moonee Ponds West Primary School in his electoral district of Maribyrnong, on May 18, 2019./ VCG Photo)