RURAL independent MPs will take centre-stage in any critical post-election deliberations over coming days or weeks to resolve another potential hung parliament scenario.
In scenes reminiscent of the 2010 federal election where balance of power negotiations extended for 17 days, none of the major parties won a clear majority in the House of Representatives on election night.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he remained confident the coalition could still form a majority government by claiming the 76 seats needed to take control in the Lower House.
The best Labor can hope for is to form a minority government needing the support of potentially five crossbench MPs to pass legislation.
Before counting resumed on Tuesday the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) had the coalition on 67 seats, Labor on 71, with six undetermined and independent and minor parties on six.
Of the six undetermined seats, five are held by the coalition while the AEC also had the Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) with two seats.
But the NXT is more likely to claim just one place after claiming the South Australian rural seat of Mayo that was previously considered a safe Liberal electorate but was lost by disgraced former cabinet minister Jamie Briggs.
Tasmanian Independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Greens Melbourne MP Adam Bandt are unlikely to support the coalition.
But Victorian Independent MP Cathy McGowan, Queensland Independent MP Bob Katter and new NXT MP Rebekha Sharkie may be critical votes for the coalition in forming government to break the deadlock.
Analysts say a most likely outcome is that the three MPs would not enter into any formal agreement but would agree to not support any no-confidence motion vote against the government.
In 2010, Mr Katter joined fellow rural independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott in the tense balance of power talks but eventually chose not to side with Labor to form a minority government, after submitting a list of 20 core demands to the leaders of the main parties.
In the list six years ago was the restoration of collective bargaining rights to Australian farmers, while he rejected support for the mining tax or carbon tax and demanded a mandate on the production of biofuels.
"Where a majority of farmers in an industry request collective bargaining arrangements, they be provided," it said.
Mr Katter is expected to use another wish-list of policy demands in any talks to form government after this year's election which would again demand a mandate on biofuels and tighter foreign investment controls.
He's also likely to look favourably on a coalition election policy proposal announced by Nationals' leader and Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce to implement a Regional Investment Corporation (RIC).
The RIC's aim is to streamline administration of Commonwealth funded drought concessional support for loans, through a central agency, rather than a mishmash of State and territory governments.
Mr Katter would likely see that move as a means of providing more immediate support for farmers in any financial distress which may also be backed by Mr Xenophon.
The Kennedy MP has also indicated he and the NXT would seek stronger protections for Australian manufacturing industries but said he would "spit upon" any offer to be the speaker in the House of Representatives.
"Australia (is) not for sale - nor am I," he said on Sunday.
Mr Katter said he, Mr Xenophon and Mr Wilkie were in "a very powerful position" post-election.
"Our farmers get 5 per cent of their income from the government - all the other farmers on Earth get 41pc of their income from the government," he said.
"You remove all the protection and slave labour wage level products that are most unhealthy and environmentally unfriendly (and) are pouring into this country, destroying all of our industries.
"We have nothing we can sell now and we have to buy everything from overseas.
"What do you do when you're in that situation - you have to sell the farm, don't you?"
Mr Katter was returned to his far north Queensland seat of Kennedy with an 11pc swing at this year's election after it was almost won by the Nationals in 2013.
Live animal exports is an area where the five crossbench MPs hold varying views with the Greens, Mr Wilkie and Mr Xenophon both supporting a phase-out of the trade, while Mr Katter is a strong supporter.
