Australia's political future hangs in the hands of a disparate gang of four independents and one Greens MP.

The Coalition and Labor are both hoping to form a minority government with the help of the independents.

The four MPs are Tasmanian newcomer Andrew Wilkie and rural seat incumbents Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter and Tony Windsor.

Also in the mix is Nationals MP Tony Crook, who wants to be part of the cross-bench negotiations.

The major parties will now have to start horse-trading; this is what they have to work with:

Bob Katter

Background

Member for Kennedy in outback Queensland since 1993

Member for Kennedy in outback Queensland since 1993 Was with the National Party until 2001 but left to run as an independent

Was with the National Party until 2001 but left to run as an independent Left the Nationals so he could better represent issues in his electorate

Left the Nationals so he could better represent issues in his electorate Easily retained his seat in all the elections since 2001

Easily retained his seat in all the elections since 2001 Kennedy is a family affair for Katter - his father Bob Katter Senior held the seat from 1966 to 1990

Kennedy is a family affair for Katter - his father Bob Katter Senior held the seat from 1966 to 1990 Bob Katter Senior was a Labor politician but later joined the Nationals

Bob Katter Senior was a Labor politician but later joined the Nationals Was a Queensland MP from 1974 to 1992 and a strong supporter of controversial ex-premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen

Was a Queensland MP from 1974 to 1992 and a strong supporter of controversial ex-premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen Describes himself as a "wild boy from wild country"

Describes himself as a "wild boy from wild country" Before the election he said he would work with the Greens if there was a hung Parliament

Issues

Mr Katter says the survival of rural Australia will be his top priority

Mr Katter says the survival of rural Australia will be his top priority Even though he rejects computers, he has already named broadband as a big issue

Even though he rejects computers, he has already named broadband as a big issue Has called for more more investment in ethanol

Has called for more more investment in ethanol Opposed to privatisation and economic deregulation

Opposed to privatisation and economic deregulation He says a privatised NBN will not work, saying "privatised Telstra has been absolutely disastrous for rural Australia"

He says a privatised NBN will not work, saying "privatised Telstra has been absolutely disastrous for rural Australia" He is against banana, beef and other primary produce imports

He is against banana, beef and other primary produce imports He wants to bring back agricultural subsidies and tariffs

He wants to bring back agricultural subsidies and tariffs Mr Katter is a climate change sceptic and is against an emissions trading scheme

Tony Windsor

Background

Has a farming background and is a primary producer

Has a farming background and is a primary producer An active participant in innumerable rural and community groups

An active participant in innumerable rural and community groups Holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New England

Holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New England Mr Windsor is the incumbent independent Member for the northern NSW seat of New England

Mr Windsor is the incumbent independent Member for the northern NSW seat of New England A former National Party member

A former National Party member Was defeated in a National Party pre-selection ballot in NSW in 1991

Was defeated in a National Party pre-selection ballot in NSW in 1991 Went on to win the election as an independent and remained NSW independent MP until 2001

Went on to win the election as an independent and remained NSW independent MP until 2001 Held the balance of power with three other independents in NSW

Held the balance of power with three other independents in NSW Switched to federal politics in 2001, defeating the incumbent Nationals member in New England

Switched to federal politics in 2001, defeating the incumbent Nationals member in New England Won New England on preferences in 2001, increased his primary vote to 57 per cent in 2004 and nearly 62 per cent in 2007

Won New England on preferences in 2001, increased his primary vote to 57 per cent in 2004 and nearly 62 per cent in 2007 In 2004 Mr Windsor claimed then-deputy PM John Anderson and a Nationals senator bribed him to quit his seat

In 2004 Mr Windsor claimed then-deputy PM John Anderson and a Nationals senator bribed him to quit his seat Recently came under fire from other candidates over the sale and release of his farm to a mining company

Issues

Mr Windsor says he would do a deal with either major party

Mr Windsor says he would do a deal with either major party Mr Windsor has named broadband as a key issue

Mr Windsor has named broadband as a key issue He also says a main issue is the "stability of the nation"

He also says a main issue is the "stability of the nation" Has been heavily involved in the climate change debate

Has been heavily involved in the climate change debate Claims credit for some ideas which have been picked up including the Renewable Energy Institute and bringing the issue of soil carbon to a national level

Rob Oakeshott

Background

Member for mid-north NSW coast seat of Lyne since 2008 by-election

Member for mid-north NSW coast seat of Lyne since 2008 by-election Former National Party member but left the party so he could better represent his electorate

Former National Party member but left the party so he could better represent his electorate Was a NSW Nationals MP until 2008 when he resigned to run for Lyne

Was a NSW Nationals MP until 2008 when he resigned to run for Lyne Holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Government

Holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Government Has described his views as economically conservative and socially progressive

Has described his views as economically conservative and socially progressive Mr Oakeshott won an easy victory at the September 2008 by-election

Mr Oakeshott won an easy victory at the September 2008 by-election Before the election he said there was nothing to fear from a hung parliament

Before the election he said there was nothing to fear from a hung parliament He said a hung parliament would increase the influence of all politicians, not just those in the balance of power

Issues

Mr Oakeshott says he is undecided on who he will side with

Mr Oakeshott says he is undecided on who he will side with He names climate change as a top priority

He names climate change as a top priority He says an emissions trading scheme should be a key policy of any government he will help form

He says an emissions trading scheme should be a key policy of any government he will help form He has also called for a fair go for regional and rural Australia

He has also called for a fair go for regional and rural Australia Names the make-up of the Senate, the stability of the government and his electorate's needs as key issues

Andrew Wilkie

Background

Mr Wilkie is looking set to win safe Labor seat Denison in Hobart

Mr Wilkie is looking set to win safe Labor seat Denison in Hobart The retiring Labor MP is Duncan Kerr, who has represented the seat since 1987

The retiring Labor MP is Duncan Kerr, who has represented the seat since 1987 Mr Wilkie is a whistle-blowing former intelligence analyst

Mr Wilkie is a whistle-blowing former intelligence analyst No stranger to politics, Mr Wilkie has previously stood for the Greens

No stranger to politics, Mr Wilkie has previously stood for the Greens He says he will not necessarily fall towards the Greens because of his history with the party

He says he will not necessarily fall towards the Greens because of his history with the party He describes himself as centre-based "new breed of political activist"

He describes himself as centre-based "new breed of political activist" He was a former young Liberal

He was a former young Liberal In 2004 Mr Wilkie ran against then-PM John Howard in Bennelong as a Greens candidate

In 2004 Mr Wilkie ran against then-PM John Howard in Bennelong as a Greens candidate Mr Wilkie just missed out on a Tasmanian seat in March's state election

Issues

Mr Wilkie sees an "stable, competent and ethical government" as important above all else

Mr Wilkie sees an "stable, competent and ethical government" as important above all else He also sees gaining a fair share of federal road funding for Hobart as a big issue

He also sees gaining a fair share of federal road funding for Hobart as a big issue Mr Wilkie has also named one of his main concerns as seeing pensions keep up with the cost of living

Mr Wilkie has also named one of his main concerns as seeing pensions keep up with the cost of living He wants dental care to be included in Medicare and mental health funding increased

He wants dental care to be included in Medicare and mental health funding increased Mr Wilkie also wants a better funding model for public education

Mr Wilkie also wants a better funding model for public education He says what is in the public interest is very important

He says what is in the public interest is very important Believes major political parties focus too much in "self-interest" and "party politics"

Other key players

There are also two other members in the mix: the Greens' first lower house MP, Adam Bandt, and Nationals MP Tony Crook.

Adam Bandt

Mr Bandt has indicated he will side with a Gillard Government

Mr Bandt has indicated he will side with a Gillard Government He is replacing Labor frontbencher Lindsay Tanner in the seat of Melbourne

He is replacing Labor frontbencher Lindsay Tanner in the seat of Melbourne Mr Bandt has worked as an industrial and public interest lawyer

Mr Bandt has worked as an industrial and public interest lawyer His work for unions included a stint at Slater and Gordon in a position previously held by Julia Gillard

His work for unions included a stint at Slater and Gordon in a position previously held by Julia Gillard A PhD student who describes himself as a book nerd and live music fan

A PhD student who describes himself as a book nerd and live music fan Finished second in this seat in 2007 and also finished second in the 2009 Melbourne Lord Mayoral election

Finished second in this seat in 2007 and also finished second in the 2009 Melbourne Lord Mayoral election Greens won NSW seat of Cunningham in a 2002 by-election but Mr Bandt's victory is the first time the Greens have won a seat in the Lower House at a general election

Tony Crook