The five crossbench MPs who could hold all the power

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull would be expecting to count on the support of three of the five kingmaker MPs — two conservative MPs and a former Liberal staffer.

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PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull would be expecting to count on the support of three of the five kingmaker MPs — two conservative MPs and a former Liberal staffer.

It is likely the Prime Minister would only need the backing of one or two of the crossbenchers — from the line-up of Bob Katter, Cathy McGowan, Adam Bandt, Andrew Wilkie and Rebekha Sharkie — to form a minority government.

Mr Katter is a regional politician with a very conservative electorate. Ms Sharkie is part of the Nick Xenophon Team, which prides itself on being a “centrist” political force. And Ms McGowan, the Indi MP, has a good relationship with the Prime Minister.

She also worked as a staffer for then Indi Liberal MP Ewen Cameron during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Katter's Australian Party, Bob Katter says it is still early days but was looking forward to playing a ‘very powerful’ role in the next parliament.

The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Katter — who backed Tony Abbott in the last hung parliament, Ms McGowan — an economic conservative — and Ms Sharkie — a long-time former Liberal staffer — would not block an attempt by Mr Turnbull to form a minority government if he falls short of the magic 76 seats needed for a majority.

The most likely scenario would be that the independents agree not to support any no-confidence motion in the government, rather than enter into formal alliances.

Mr Turnbull spent yesterday morning in his Point Piper mansion phoning crossbenchers and congratulating them on their victory in a charm ­offensive ahead of potential negotiations.

Mr Katter would be likely to seek a long wishlist of items before pledging his support for the Turnbull government.

Denison independent MP Andrew Wilkie fronts media the day after the election. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

These would include a massive dam project on the Burdekin river and a revised spending plan for the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.

Mr Katter said he was looking forward to playing a “very powerful” role in the next ­parliament but conceded the government might still win a majority.

“At this stage, we’re all just guessing,” he said.

Mr Katter, who experienced the painful three weeks of negotiations with Mr ­Abbott and Julia Gillard, indicated he felt the crossbenchers should work together.

“If we had stuck together in 2010 I sometimes think we could have got a national ethanol mandate and a whole range of other things.”

Ms McGowan is a largely unknown quantity to the public. She won a second term in Indi after defeating high-profile Liberal Sophie Mirabella.

She generally votes with the government on economic and trade policy.

Cathy McGowan works the polling booths around Wangaratta in her seat of Indi.

The rural MP, who is economically conservative but socially progressive, is a strong advocate for action on climate change, gay marriage and refugee rights, but is more comfortable with Mr Turnbull over Mr Abbott at the helm of a conservative government.

Ms McGowan would not be drawn on who she would support yesterday, but indicated she has a good relationship with Mr Turnbull.

“We worked particularly well on the mobile blackspot issue in Indi,” Ms McGowan said. “We have agreed to stay in contact over the next few days as the national situation ­becomes clearer.”

Nick Xenophon’s dream of running the nation could eventuate after his candidate Rebekha Sharkie toppled disgraced former minister Jamie Briggs in the South Australian seat of Mayo.

Mr Xenophon said yesterday he did not believe there would be a hung parliament and questions about who his party would support were ­hypothetical. But Ms Sharkie has previously worked for three Liberal MPs.

Nick Xenophon Team’s Rebekha Sharkie on Stirling main street. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“Ask us that question when more votes have been counted and we have a better idea of the competition,” he said.

“It’s more likely than not that there will be a very narrow Coalition win but that’s still not a bad thing in this seat and for South Australia who could hold the nation’s destiny in its hands.”

The Greens would be expected to align with Labor. Greens MP Adam Bandt, who retained the seat of Melbourne, immediately attacked the Coalition government.

Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt is back in a ready to start spending straight away.

“One thing that is crystal clear is that the Abbott-­Turnbull austerity era is over,” Mr Bandt said.

“There’s been a resounding rejection of their politics that will only grow the gap ­between the very wealthy and everyone else.”

Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie, who backed the Gillard government in 2010, is regarded as left-­leaning by the Coalition.

He would not reveal which way he would vote yesterday.

“The government, and often the alternative government, are out of step with the community so they’re looking to people like me to represent them,” Mr Wilkie said.