Premier’s coalition loses its edge

SYDNEY — Australia’s ruling coalition was turned into a minority government on Saturday after a massive swing against its senior partner, the Liberal Party, in a byelection for the seat of the prime minister the party itself had dismissed.

In a stinging backlash from the electorate after the fourth toppling of an Australian leader by internal party vote in just eight years, a swing of more than 20 percent against the Liberals propelled independent candidate Kerryn Phelps to a decisive victory.

The result cost the conservative LiberalNational party coalition its one-seat majority in the House of Representatives, forcing Prime Minister Scott Morrison to rely on deals with independent lawmakers to guarantee confidence in his government, enact legislation and ensure money supply.

The next general election is due in seven months, and there was no talk Saturday that it would be held any sooner.

With Phelps saying she has “no intention of bringing down the government,” and other independent lawmakers also vowing to support Morrison’s administration, it would seem unlikely that any no-confidence motion brought against the government between now and the election would succeed.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. projections hailed Phelps as the winner after just 9 percent of votes had been counted, forecasting that she would gain 57 percent of votes cast.

Liberal candidate Dave Sharma conceded defeat soon afterward, saying: “Tonight’s result has been over a little sooner than I expected. I’m certainly glad I kept my day job.”