Scott Morrison may need to talk turkey with crossbenchers on climate change if he falls short of a majority, delivering an early test of his leadership.
The new independent MP for the Sydney seat of Warringah, Zali Steggall, says she has not been contacted by Mr Morrison but she is willing to talk.
"I definitely want to talk to the government," Ms Steggall told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.
While Mr Morrison's win was against the odds, Ms Steggall's defeat of former prime minister Tony Abbott in the safe Liberal seat was equally surprising, ending his 25-year political career.
A jubilant Ms Steggall, a winter Olympian, compared her electoral victory to winning a medal.
"At the moment the coalition are clearly in front of Labor when it comes to the number of seats won," she said.
"I think there is clearly a mandate there and I indicated that was my preference anyway during the campaign."
But she hopes defeating Mr Abbott will end climate change wars, a key issue in her election campaign.
The Victorian seat of Indi is also likely to have a new independent MP in Helen Haines but she has made it clear she will only work on a case-by-case basis with the government and does not intend to operate in a bloc with other crossbenchers.
However, she expects they'll work together on issues such as climate change.
Ms Haines looks set to take the seat that was previously held by independent Cathy McGowan, winning almost 52 per cent of the vote so far after preferences.
It would make her the first independent to succeed another independent in a seat.
"I'm not operating as a bloc with the other independents. I very much run my own race in Indi," she told ABC television.
"There's no doubt, though, that we do see eye-to-eye on action on climate. I think climate is the one that we will be collaborating very closely on the crossbench."
She said she had yet to speak to other members who will make up the crossbench in the House of Representatives.
Wentworth independent, Kerryn Phelps, who famously won the Sydney seat in a by-election previously held by another former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, remains in a close contest with Liberal David Sharma.
However, independent MP Andrew Wilkie romped home with a 68 per cent of the vote in his Tasmanian seat of Clark.
"The government is well aware I have a 'no deals' policy," Mr Wilkie told reporters.
"If the government should need my support on any issue ... I'll weigh it up and vote on its merits, which is what I've been doing for the last six months.
Other crossbenchers Rebekha Sharkie (Centre Alliance, Mayo, SA), Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party, Kennedy, Queensland) and Adam Bandt (Greens, Melbourne, Victoria) were also returned.
