Australian election too close to call

Sydney

AUSTRALIA braced for an election that was too close to call on Friday, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull warning of economic chaos if his gamble on an early poll backfires and leaves him without the outright majority that he needs to enact major reforms.

The leader of Australia's conservative coalition prompted Saturday's election by dissolving both Houses of Parliament in May, blaming intransigent independents in the Upper House Senate for blocking his agenda.