Australia's two main political parties are trying to win over independent lawmakers after a close election resulted in a hung parliament, the first since 1940. Financial markets are expected to see a sell-off when trading resumes on Monday, as neither the Labor party nor the opposition is close to securing a majority. Economist Craig James of Commsec warned that the uncertainty could have a negative impact on the Australian dollar and shares. With most votes counted, a hung parliament seems likely, with two potential options for a minority government: a conservative administration supported by rural independents or a Labor government supported by Green MPs. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has expressed willingness to discuss policies with these lawmakers. Gillard stated her intention to negotiate in good faith for a successful government agreement, emphasizing that Labor was more capable of providing stable government as they had received more votes than the conservatives. Abbott also met with some crossbench MPs and expressed his willingness to be pragmatic within the policy boundaries discussed during the election. Abbott mentioned that he had briefly spoken with the three incumbent independents and looked forward to further discussions in the coming days. Lawmakers from the Green party and independents elected in the recent election have diverse platforms, from advocating for higher taxes to supporting more open government and reducing banana imports. The Greens, potentially holding the balance of power in the Senate, will prioritize action on climate change, in contrast to Labor's delay in implementing a carbon emissions trading scheme and the conservatives' opposition to a carbon price. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown has proposed a temporary A$20 per tonne carbon price as a starting point. Treasurer Wayne Swan aims to maintain stability in the government until a new administration is established. He stated that Australia's economy is one of the strongest in the world and has a stable financial system and top-notch regulators who have effectively served the interests of both political parties. UBS's chief strategist, David Cassidy, mentioned that investors would prefer a conservative government over a Labor-Green coalition, as conservative leader Abbott has promised to eliminate the proposed 30 percent mining tax. The tax has had a negative impact on mining stocks like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, as well as the Australian dollar. Cassidy predicted that there would be some selling in the market due to the uncertainty, and that markets would not be comfortable with a Labor government supported by the Greens. Greens leader Brown had an initial meeting with Gillard, who removed former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in a party coup in June. Brown stated that no agreements were made, no policies were discussed, and no demands were presented during the meeting. He also expressed readiness to meet with Abbott. Election analysts predicted that both Labor and the conservatives would not secure enough seats to govern independently, necessitating the support of independents and a Green MP. Independent candidate Andrew Wilkie, who aligns with the Greens and center-left, said he had received a call from Gillard but did not disclose which major party he would support. Wilkie emphasized the importance of stable and ethical government in his decision-making process. Another independent candidate, Bob Katter, who is known for wearing a stetson hat and being unconventional, stated that he would support the political party that he believes will prioritize the needs of rural communities and protect their rights to engage in activities such as fishing, camping, hunting, and shooting. Independent Tony Windsor expressed willingness to engage in discussions with any party once the final election results were announced, according to local media reports. Some of the independent candidates hold protectionist beliefs and are vocal about their concerns regarding Chinese investments in Australian resources.