Election Night live: Coalition wins government as Labor swept from power

Australia Network News - September 07, 2013

Kevin Rudd has appeared before his supporters in Brisbane to concede defeat to Tony Abbott and the Coalition.

While Mr Rudd withstood a swing to retain his seat of Griffith, a nationwide move away from Labor has seen his party swept from power after six years.

"Today we have fought the good fight as the great Australian Labor Party. Tonight is the time to unite as the great Australian nation," he said.

Labor saw a primary vote swing against it of around 4.5 per cent, although the voter rebellion in western Sydney appears to not be as bad as the party had feared.

In one of the shocks of the night, Clive Palmer is on course to become the MP for the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax after his party grabbed more than 11 per cent of the vote in Queensland.

And while the Coalition will have a large majority in the House of Representatives, the battle for the Senate remains up in the air.