Julia Gillard will stay as Australia's Prime Minister after winning the backing of two key independent MPs. Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott held the balance of power in parliament after a fellow independent MP, Bob Katter, backed opposition leader Tony Abbott. The dramatic announcement ended more than two weeks of political deadlock following indecisive elections. It gives Ms Gillard's Labour Party the backing of one more MP in the lower house than the Liberal-led coalition. At a news conference in Canaberra, one of the MPs Rob Oakeshott said he wish to see a unified Australia after the divisiveness of the elections. The minority government is Australia's first since World War II. The key independents' decision to back a Labour minority government clears the way for Julia Gillard to move into the Prime Minister's residence. Julia Gillard became the first woman Prime Minister of Australia in June, and has now won the right to remain in the job as head of a minority government.