TONY ABBOTT will be the next Prime Minister after the Coalition claimed victory at the federal election.
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But Labor MP Catherine King managed to hold on in the seat of Ballarat, despite a swing against her to Liberal candidate John Fitzgibbon.
It will mean Ballarat has an MP in opposition for the first time since 2007.
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At last count, there was a swing of more than 10 per cent against Ms King on primary votes, which translates to a seven per cent swing on two party preferred.
If that result stays the same it will leave the margin at between 4 and 5 per cent.
The Greens have seen a dip in their vote, with candidate Stephanie Hodgins-May sitting on around 10 per cent of the primary vote.
The minor parties won an increase in their vote, with the lions' share going to Palmer United Party and Australia Sex Party.
Ms King said it was an incredible privilege to be returned as member for Ballarat.
She thanked her family and her campaign team for their help in her re-election.
"I think that there's certainly a couple of messages that I take out from the election result," she said.
"One is that people here in this electorate have continue to have faith in Labor but clearly there's also been a message sent that they've not been happy with some of things that have been happening with the federal parliamentary Labor team."
