THE Coalition will consider trying to force a rerun of the election in the Queensland seat of Herbert after Labor snared the seat by just 37 votes, leaving Malcolm Turnbull with the barest majority of one seat in Parliament.
Four weeks after the election, Australian Electoral Commission spokesman Phil Diak has confirmed to Fairfax Media that the victory by Labor's Cathy O'Toole over Liberal incumbent Ewen Jones was finalised on Sunday morning.
A spokesman for the Queensland Liberal Nationals said on Sunday that the party would probe claims that some voters such as Australian Defence Force personnel did not get a chance to vote. It would then decide whether to mount a challenge.
"The LNP is examining a number of issues reported to the party to determine if all Herbert electors were given the opportunity to vote," the party spokesman said.
"As soon as it is possible, the LNP will decide its next course of action."
The result leaves the Turnbull government with 76 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. Labor and the crossbenchers will hold 74 seats together.
Once the Coalition provides a Speaker, it will have 75 votes. The Coalition will therefore still be able to govern in its own right but with the barest possible majority of one.
However, the close result raises the prospect of a legal challenge by the LNP which, if successful, could send Herbert voters back to the polling booths.
Mr Turnbull last week flagged a possible challenge if Labor were to win by a narrow margin.
"There may well be a challenge to it because there are ... allegations that people were not able to vote," he said.
Queensland LNP Senator Ian McDonald has said that some voters such as Australian Defence Force troops on postings were not able to vote.
But the AEC has previously described that as "speculative".
Mr Diak told the ABC on Sunday that he could not comment on any future challenge "if there is to be one".
He has previously said that the commission works with military personnel on postings and exercises to ensure they can vote.
The one-seat majority would mean the Coalition would need to maintain absolute discipline in Parliament and would place further pressure on Mr Turnbull.