Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has begun preliminary negotiations with the Australian Greens and independent Members of Parliament to form a government. Gillard told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday that it was now clear that the Labor Party had won the popular vote and this should be weighed carefully by independents who would now help decide which party governed. She said voters had clearly sent a message calling for a change in the way politics in Australia was conducted. Australia is facing the prospect of a hung parliament, the first since 1940, after neither Labor nor the coalition had the 76 seats to form government in their own right. A final result for yesterday's election is unlikely to be known for days. So far, the Australian Electorate Commission has counted 78 percent of the election votes, with Labor and Liberal National Party both win 70 seats. On a two party preferred vote, which has counted 74.76 percent votes, Labor has been leading 50.68 percent against the 49.32 percent of Liberal/National party.