Australia's Labor Party is overtaking the ruling Conservatives in the national election, although it may have to form a minority government, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Initial vote counts showed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Conservative coalition and Labor's opposition losing ground to smaller parties such as the environment-oriented Greens and climate-oriented independents.

Neither major party seemed confident of winning the minimum 76 seats needed for a majority in the 151-seat parliament, but Labor appears to be on track to win more than 70 seats, ABC reported.

"Labor has 72 members and needs 76 seats to govern. It has 11 members, most of whom support action on climate change," ABC election analyst Anthony Green said live.