Your special election Briefing

Welcome to this special election Briefing. The first exit poll of the night is encouraging for Labor.

Welcome to this special election Briefing, which aims to set you up for tonight’s count.

The first exit poll of the night has Bill Shorten and the Labor Party recording a 13-seat win, with big gains in Victoria.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny cast their vote in Sydney, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his wife Chloe voting in Melbourne earlier today. Picture: Getty Images

Welcome to PoliticsNow

With polling booths about to close on the east coast, you can start following the seat count and read updates from our reporters and analysts on our live blog.

And keep our guide to Election 19 handy for seats to watch.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 17: Labor Leader Bill Shorten, Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews, and former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks have a Hawkes Beer in memory of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke at the John Curtin Hotel on May 17, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. Hawke passed away in his Sydney home yesterday, May 16, at age 89. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

What Newspoll showed

The final Newspoll of the campaign showed a 1.9 per cent swing against the Coalition ­despite voters declaring Scott Morrison to be their preferred prime minister. This means Bill Shorten is on track to return Labor to power six years after the collapse of the Rudd-Gillard ­government.

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Former prime minister and member for Warringah Tony Abbott takes his place in the quest as he waits to vote at Forestville Public School on Election Day in Sydney, Saturday, May 18, 2019. Approximately 16.5 million Australians will vote in what is tipped to be a tight election contest between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australian Opposition leader Bill Shorten. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

Abbott defiant but nervous

Tony Abbott believes the Coalition remains in a “winnable” position, even though the Liberal Party’s hold on several NSW seats is in serious doubt.

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TAUS INQUIER BOB HAWKE SPECIAL WIDE

The people’s PM

If you haven’t read Troy Bramston’s feature on the late Bob Hawke yet, it’s 14 minutes well spent.

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