Australian key lawmaker backs Labor to govern

An independent lawmaker says he will back the Labor Party to form an Australian minority government.

Andrew Wilkie's decision announced on Thursday gives the Labor Party control of 74 seats in 150-seat House of Representatives - two short of a majority.

It also gives the party a single seat advantage over the conservative Liberal Party-led coalition with a bloc of three independents yet to announce which major party they will support.

If neither party can strike a deal with independents to achieve a 76-seat majority, Australians will return to the polls.

Labor has formed a caretaker government since Aug. 21 elections failed to deliver any party a majority.