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08/20/2010 02:44 P (EST)
MELBOURNE, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- The fate of Australia's Labor Party in Saturday's national elections may hinge on support in the state of Victoria, analysts say.
Five polls taken during the campaign show Victoria and Tasmania as the only states where Labor is likely to gain ground in the election, The Age newspaper reported.
But a final poll shows sizeable swings of around 3 per cent against Labor in the crucial states of New South Wales and Queensland, and 4 per cent in Western Australia, the newspaper said.
The Labor party holds 88 seats in the 150-member House. If it loses a net 13 seats, it would lose its majority. If the opposition Coalition gains a net 17 seats, it would gain a majority.
Just as likely, analysts say, is a hung Parliament, with no party winning a clear majority.
Such an outcome usually results in either a coalition government, a minority government, or a dissolution of Parliament and a fresh election, experts say.
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