Julia Gillard firms as likely PM

Julia Gillard firms as likely PM Late yesterday, Labor was hopeful of holding 73 seats in the 150-seat Parliament, and as many as 74, with only a few hundred votes to decide the final outcome.Ms Gillard was forced to intervene to stem recriminations within Labor, issuing a gag order on ministers speaking publicly.

A source confirmed she was so concerned about the perception of instability she ordered powerbroker Mark Arbib to cancel an appearance on the ABC program Q&A last night.The three independents will meet this morning in Canberra in an effort to reach consensus.

Privately, the two New South Wales independents, including Mr Oakeshott and Tony Windsor were leaning toward Labor and would break from Queensland independent Bob Katter if needed.With their support and that of Greens MP Adam Bandt, Ms Gillard would be able to form government with the slimmest of margins and claim the critical 76 seats needed to govern.

As counting continued this morning, the focus was on the three key seats of Hasluck in West Australia, Denison in Tasmania and Dunkley in Victoria.With Labor claiming 72 seats, it appeared to be edging ahead of independent Andrew Wilkie in Denison and claimed it might still be in the race for Hasluck.

However, Ms Gillard has warned it could still be days before either side was in a position to form government.It was possible that both the Coalition and Labor could be locked at 73 seats apiece, giving right Ms Gillard, as the incumbent, the right to first seek to form government.