As another hung parliament looms, five crossbenchers with varying degrees of experience are shaping as those most likely to hold the balance of power.
As seat-counting continued late into the night, it remained unclear whether the Coalition would amass enough seats to govern in its own right. 
Three incumbents - Greens MP Adam Bandt and independents Andrew Wilkie and Bob Katter - were re-elected on Saturday night with strong majorities.
First-term independent Cathy McGowan also held her rural Victorian seat of Indi, while Nick Xenophon Team's Rebekha Sharkie unseated Liberal MP Jamie Briggs in the Adelaide seat of   Mayo.
Mr Bandt, the Greens' sole lower house representative, has been returned with a strong majority in his inner-city seat of Melbourne after a swing towards him of more than 1 per cent. He will serve a third term after first being elected to office in 2010.
Mr Wilkie was easily returned with more than two thirds of the vote, including a swing of almost 3 per cent. He will also serve his third term.
Mr Katter, the larrikin Queensland figure, retained his seat of Kennedy with a huge swing of almost 10 per cent to him.
Ms McGowan comfortably held the sprawling Victorian seat of Indi with a swing of more than 3 per cent, after her surprise win over Liberal frontbencher Sophie Mirabella in 2013.
Mrs Mirabella was the only Liberal MP to lose her seat that year, in a major shock. This time, Ms McGowan held the rural Victorian seat with a strong swing towards her.
New kid on the block Ms Sharkie will face a baptism of fire after defeating embattled former minister Mr Briggs in South Australia.
Her victory is a boon for Senator Nick Xenophon who also appears likely to play the role of kingmaker in the Senate. As a first-term MP, Ms Sharkie's inexperience in federal politics will be in the spotlight, especially with the backdrop of another hung parliament.
A hung parliament will test the lobbying ability and political allegiance of all crossbenchers, with huge pressure resting on their shoulders to help form a new government.
Independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor were both unsuccessful in their attempts to return to Canberra after retiring in 2013. Both caused major swings against the incumbents, but ultimately fell short. Mr Oakeshott's loss comes after his surprisingly nomination at the 11th hour,
Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott's defeat means the nation will not get a repeat of their famous 17-minute speech outlining their decision to back Julia Gillard instead of Tony Abbott in 2010.
A sixth crossbencher remained a possibility on Saturday night with Greens candidate Alex Bhathal pushing Labor MP David Feeney in the suburban Melbourne seat of Batman.
Late on Saturday night it was too close to call but Labor was tipped to hang on.