With around 75 per cent of the primary vote counted, ABC television projected that Howard's Liberal National coalition, which held 92 seats in the outgoing Lower House, is expected to get between 77 to 83 seats in the 148-member House but it will be days before a final outcome from the extremely close-run race is determined.

Labour Opposition will get 21 extra seats reducing the government to a majority of eight seats, the ABC quoting computer projections said. Howard tonight claimed victory saying ``it is clear that the coalition will have a working majority in the new Parliament.''

Speaking at a Liberal Party gathering here, Howard thanked the Australian people for returning the government and for ``embracing a bold economic reform that is in the long-term interests of the Australian community''.In Perth,Labour Opposition leader Kim Beazley conceded defeat saying, ``I think a win by us is unlikely.'' Howard was elected by a landslide victory in March 1996 but called an early election to push through a 10 per cent goods and service tax.

One nation leader Pauline Hanson, who exploded onto the political scene about 18 months ago with proposals to freeze Asian immigration and cut welfare programs for aborigines, appeared not to have been re-elected, calling into question the party's ability to continue.

About 12 million registered voters cast their ballots at thousands of polling booths in public buildings, from the nation's desert to its tropical north and in its modern, bustling cities in the southeast.

Howard could take only limited comfort from the victory, with voters deserting his governing coalition in droves to Opposition parties which may yet have the power to alter his tax plan.