Peter van Onselen says ‘Scott Morrison has lost this election’

Peter van Onselen says he believes “Scott Morrison has lost this election” pointing to some key reasons why the Coalition can’t win.

Commentator Peter van Onselen has said he doesn’t think the Coalition can win the election.

The Australian contributing editor, who is part of the 10 News election panel, said “Scott Morrison has lost this election” around 8.30pm.

“The Liberal Party cannot form government, in my opinion,” van Onselen said.

“We are now going to get into the entrails of whether that is a minority or a majority,” he said.

The University of Western Australia professor of politics said the Liberals were losing too many seats — partly because of the so-called “teal” independents backed by Climate 200 — for them to be competitive to form a minority government.

“That is not going to happen,” he said.

The Australian has called Wentworth for Independent Allegra Spender and other results are also not swinging the Coalition’s way.

Sandra Sully and Peter van Onselen

Van Onselen said Labor were looking good to potentially get a narrow majority and even if they didn’t, the minority government they would be able to form was “clear to see” because the Greens and independent Andrew Wilkie would back them in.

He also noted Warringah independent Zali Steggall said she would not back a Coalition government under Scott Morrison.

“Scott Morrison has lost this election,” van Onselen said.

“What we are waiting to see is by how much at this point in time.”

Van Onselen described the result as a “war on two fronts” with the Coalition battling the teal candidates as well as Labor.

“They were unable to pull it together,” he said.

“Labor can lock in the gains even if they are in a minority government.”