The latest Fairfax Media projection gives the Coalition 73 seats, Labor 66 seats, 5 on the crossbench and six undecided. Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese will move the motion congratulating leader Bill Shorten at Friday's caucus meeting in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Meanwhile, the Labor Left is already preparing to push for an extra seat in the next 30-member Labor frontbench in the coming weeks, arguing that a proportional increase in their numbers means they deserve another spot. Mr Albanese's motion falls short of a formal endorsement of Mr Shorten to remain leader because, under the leadership rules introduced by Kevin Rudd and adopted in 2013, the Labor leadership is automatically thrown open if the federal parliamentary party does not win the election and nominations must remain open for a week. The motion will be put when Labor MPs jet in to Canberra to meet on Friday and is expected to receive unanimous support.

In recent days, the Labor frontbencher had signalled he had no plans to challenge after speculation he could put his name forward. He will go further on Friday and make clear that no one should challenge Mr Shorten. Left-aligned Linda Burney, who won Barton, is already being touted someone who is ready to be moved straight on to frontbench. Credit:Juno Gemes "Our focus has to be on our negotiating position, everything has to be about looking ready to potentially form minority government," a member of the Labor frontbench said on the motion by Mr Albanese. The push for a change in the frontbench line up is not likely to feature prominently at Friday's meeting but will pick up next week. In the 44th parliament, the Right faction had 16 shadow ministerial spots, the Left had 13 and Andrew Leigh, who is not factionally aligned, had a seat set aside for independents.

This time around, the Left will push for a 15-14-1 split under Labor's quota system, because of its gains in Tasmania, though the Right may fight that push given it had sizeable gains in NSW. Left-aligned former NSW deputy opposition leader Linda Burney is already being touted by members of her faction as someone who is ready to be moved straight into the shadow ministry or, if Labor cobbles together a minority government, the ministry. "Our strong view is that we are entitled to another spot, we have grown our numbers," a Left faction MP said. "Linda Burney is an obvious new entrant, she is someone we need to accommodate." In other developments, Mr Shorten's chief of staff Cameron Milner - who some in Labor believed would replace current national secretary George Wright - is leaving the Opposition Leader's office.

Mr Wright, who was appointed in late 2010, is going nowhere and is expected to stay on at least until Labor's national conference in 2017. In the six seats too close to call, at 1pm on Thursday: the Coalition has a 440 vote lead in the Queensland seat of Forde with 9449 to count (up from a 264 vote Coalition lead, with 10,960 votes to count)

with 9449 to count (up from a 264 vote Coalition lead, with 10,960 votes to count) Labor leads by 1065 votes in the Queensland seat of Flynn with 9031 votes left to count.

with 9031 votes left to count. Labor leads by 722 vote lead in the Western Australian seat of Cowan with 3538 to count.

with 3538 to count. Labor leads by 8 votes in the South Australian seat of Hindmarsh , with 3071 votes to count (in from a 151 vote lead, with 4550 votes to count)

, with 3071 votes to count (in from a 151 vote lead, with 4550 votes to count) Labor leads by 620 votes in the Queensland seat of Herbert with 8287 votes to count.

with 8287 votes to count. Labor leads by 732 votes in the Queensland seat of Capricornia with 8332 votes to count. Follow James Massola on Facebook Follow us on Twitter