Labor Gains Senate Seats Amid Coalition Decline

Labor is on track to increase its Senate representation by at least two to four seats following its landslide election win, but will still fall short of a majority and require support from either the Greens or the Coalition to pass legislation. Projections indicate Labor will have about 28 of 76 Senate seats, while the Coalition is likely to drop to 26 and the Greens are expected to hold 11. With this configuration, Labor can pass its agenda by negotiating with the Greens, giving it options to the left, or potentially with the Coalition to the right. The results reduce the influence of crossbenchers like David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie, who were critical in the previous Senate, though some minor parties and independents remain in contention for the final seats in several states. The proportional representation system and ongoing preference distributions mean final results are still pending in some states, but Labor's path to passing laws is expected to be easier than in the last term. However, if Labor and the Greens combine for only 38 seats, they may need one additional crossbench vote to secure a majority.