Election 2019: Who's in, who's out and whose fate hangs in the balance?

Updated

It was an election that surprised the nation.

And its major protagonists enjoyed dramatic nights as results rolled in.

Who's in and who's out — and whose fate hangs in the balance?

Out: Tony Abbott

The former prime minister will leave federal politics.

He suffered a massive swing — more than 10 per cent — against him in his once-safe seat.

Mr Abbott had been the member of his beachside Sydney electorate for 25 years.

"I always knew it was going to be tough here in Warringah - I can't say that it doesn't hurt to lose," he said.

"But I decided back then, in October of last year, that if I had to lose, so be it.

"I'd rather be a loser than a quitter."

In: Zali Steggall

Warringah voters have replaced former prime minister Tony Abbott with Zali Steggall.

She's a winter Olympic medallist and lawyer.

With two-thirds of votes counted on Saturday night, she had a comfortable margin of about 8 per cent.

"It is so humbling, I can't begin to tell you!" she said.

"What a day."

Failed: Rob Oakeshott

The former MP was widely tipped in the northern NSW seat of Cowper.

However, he was defeated by the Nationals' Pat Conaghan.

Mr Oakeshott ran a last-minute campaign in 2016 and failed.

But even with greater preparation this time around, he barely made ground on the Nationals.

Survived: Greg Hunt

The Health Minister was challenged by former Liberal MP Julia Banks in the Victorian bayside seat of Flinders.

His campaign even came up against robo-calls from the son of Malcolm Turnbull.

But Ms Banks attracted just 15 per cent of first-preference votes and Mr Hunt won comfortably.

Out: Julia Banks

The former MP for Chisholm abandoned the Liberal Party last year to sit on the crossbench.

Ms Banks then decided to run in the seat of Flinders against Greg Hunt, her old colleague.

But she attracted just 15 per cent of the vote.

Survived: Josh Frydenberg

The Treasurer's seat of Kooyong was targeted by the Greens with high-profile candidate Julian Burnside.

There was a swing away from Mr Frydenberg but as the results rolled in his seat was never really in doubt.

Survived: Christian Porter

In Western Australia, the Attorney-General faced one of the Coalition's tightest margins.

But he was another that held on easily.

The electors of Pearce even doubled his margin over Labor's Kim Travers to about 6 per cent.

On edge: Kerryn Phelps

The member for Wentworth was only elected in a by-election last year.

But her political hopes hang by a thread.

She is in a neck-and-neck contest with Dave Sharma — the same Liberal candidate she defeated last year.

With about half of votes counted, her lead was hovering at about 1 per cent.

Survived: Peter Dutton

In perhaps the highest profile contest in the country, the Home Affairs Minister was defending a razor-thin margin.

In the Brisbane seat of Dickson, he was up against disability advocate and former journalist Ali France, as well as campaigning from activist group GetUp.

But Mr Dutton was triumphant.

"This is the sweetest victory of all," he told his supporters.

He was another Coalition MP who increased his margin.

Failed: Warren Mundine

The high-profile recruit in the NSW south coast seat of Gilmore failed in his election bid.

Prior to the election, previous MP Ann Sudmalis stepped down and Mr Mundine was hand-picked by the Prime Minister to contest the seat.

However, voters swung towards Labor, leaving Mr Mundine's run short.

On edge: Sarah Henderson

Sarah Henderson was the most prominent Coalition MP under threat in Victoria.

In the seat of Corangamite, Labor had put up former Surf Coast Shire mayor Libby Coker as her rival.

With three-quarters of the vote counted, the assistant social services minister was narrowly trailing.

Out as leader: Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten said he would not nominate for the impending Labor leadership contest following his party's election failure.

He has led the party since 2013 when he outpolled Anthony Albanese among his caucus colleagues.

But Mr Shorten said he would continue as member for the Victorian seat of Maribyrnong.

"This has been a tough campaign. Toxic at times. But now that the contest is over, all of us have a responsibility to respect the result, respect the wishes of the Australian people and to bring our nation together," he told Labor supporters.

"However, that task will be one for the next leader of the Labor Party because while I intend to continue to serve as the member for Maribyrnong, I will not be a candidate in the next Labor leadership ballot."

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-election, federal-elections, abbott-tony, federal-government, australia

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