Australia's two main political parties are trying to win over independent lawmakers after a close election resulted in the country possibly having its first hung parliament since 1940. Financial markets are expected to experience a sell-off when trading resumes on Monday, as both the Labor party and the opposition are struggling to secure a majority. The uncertainty surrounding the election results could have a negative impact on the Australian dollar and shares, with analysts predicting a potential drop in value. With 78 percent of votes counted, a hung parliament is the most likely outcome, with two possible scenarios for a minority government being discussed. One option is a conservative administration supported by rural independents, while the other is a Labor government supported by Green or environmentally-conscious MPs. This latter option is causing concern for many investors, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard has expressed willingness to consider the policies of these diverse lawmakers. Gillard stated her intention to negotiate in good faith for a successful government agreement, emphasizing that her Labor party was more capable of providing stable government as they had received more votes than the conservatives. Conservative leader Tony Abbott also met with some crossbench MPs and expressed his willingness to be pragmatic in discussions while staying within the policy parameters set during the election. Lawmakers from the Green Party and two independent candidates who won in the election have different priorities, such as higher taxes and more open government. The Green Party, expected to have a significant influence in the Senate, will focus on addressing climate change. Meanwhile, Labor has delayed its carbon emissions trading scheme, and conservatives are against a carbon price. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown has proposed a temporary carbon price of A$20 a tonne. Treasurer Wayne Swan assures that the current Labor government will provide stability until a new government is formed. He stated that Australia's economy is one of the strongest in the world, with a stable financial system and effective regulators who have worked well with both political parties. According to UBS chief strategist David Cassidy, investors would prefer a minority conservative government over a Labor-Green coalition as conservative leader Abbott has promised to eliminate Labor's proposed 30 percent mining tax. This tax has impacted mining stocks like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, as well as the Australian dollar. Cassidy believes that the market is prepared for some selling due to uncertainty, with markets being uneasy about a Labor government with Green support. Greens leader Brown met with Gillard, who had removed former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in a party coup in June, for initial discussions on Sunday. However, Brown later clarified that no agreements were made, no policies were talked about, and no demands were put forth. He expressed his willingness to also meet with Abbott, stating that his party has a history of responsibly working with larger parties to achieve positive outcomes in situations where there is a balance of power. Election analysts predicted that both Gillard's Labor party and the opposition conservatives would likely not have enough seats to form a government on their own, leading them to rely on four independents and a Green MP to gain power. One independent candidate, Andrew Wilkie, who aligns with the Greens and center-left, stated that he had received a call from Gillard but did not disclose which major party he would support. Wilkie mentioned that he is open-minded and will support the party that can provide stable and "ethical" governance. Another independent candidate, Bob Katter, who is known for wearing a stetson hat and hailing from the outback, stated that he would back the party that he believed would prioritize the needs of rural communities and protect their rights to engage in outdoor activities like fishing, camping, hunting, and shooting. Independent Tony Windsor expressed willingness to hold discussions with any party once the election results were finalized, according to local media. Some independent candidates hold protectionist views and are vocal about their concerns regarding Chinese investment in Australian resources.