The leader of the Coalition Tony Abbott has claimed victory, vowing that in three years time the carbon tax will be abolished, asylum seeker boats will be stopped, the budget will be headed towards surplus and the roads of the future will be being built.
He promised to govern for all Australians and to help everyone to maximise their potential - particularly mentioning indigenous Australians and those with disabilities.
In a short speech to a jubilant audience at Liberal party campaign headquarters in Sydney, Mr Abbott said he was proud and humbled as he prepared to shoulder the duties of government and pledged himself to the service of Australia.
He paid tribute to Kevin Rudd as a former Prime Minister, and thanked his staff, the Liberal party campaign director, his family, the voters of his seat of Warringa and the people of Australia.