Australian PM won't say who might attend Tokyo summit

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wouldn't say who might represent nation at a summit with US, Indian and Japanese leaders in Tokyo just three days after Australian elections on Saturday.

Morrison said on Wednesday that re were "conventions in place" to deal with election, but did t elaborate on how those conventions would work if result were close.

"I'm sure depending on outcome of this Saturday's election that y'll be put in place," Morrison said.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has said he would have himself sworn in as prime minister as soon as Sunday or Monday in order to attend summit of Indo-Pacific strategic alliance kwn as Quad on Tuesday.

" first thing that I will be doing is meeting with our allies, that's what I'll be doing, meeting with President Biden, meeting with (Japanese) Prime Minister (Fumio) Kishida, meeting with (Indian Prime Minister) Narendra Modi next week, that's my priority," Albanese told National Press Club in Canberra.

Caretaker conventions have constrained what government can do since April 10 when Morrison called election. But conventions are t binding.

published conventions provide a range of options for a caretaker prime minister undertaking an overseas visit or international negotiations.

prime minister could adopt "observer status" at Tokyo summit or seek opposition support for any negotiating positions.

Australian opposition senator Penny Wong said she would accompany Albanese to Tokyo as foreign minister if ir center-left Labor Party wins.

It's usually clear on night of Australian elections which party will win a majority of seats in House of Representatives and form government.

But opinion polls suggest weekend election will be close and could result in a hung parliament in which neir conservative coalition r Labor Party holds a majority.

re is also an increase in postal votes at this election as electors avoid pandemic risk at polling booths.

Postal votes take longer to count.

It took Labor 17 days after 2010 election to secure support of eugh independent lawmakers to form a mirity government.