In pictures: Australia goes to the polls

Tony Abbott and his family from right, Bridget, Louise, wife Margaret and Frances wave after he delivered his victory speech on 7 September — Image caption,
Tony Abbott (C) will be Australia's next prime minister after his Liberal-National Coalition defeated the governing Labor party in a general election.

Tony Abbott (C) claims victory during an election night function in Sydney, 7 September

Mr Abbott promised to return the economy to budget surplus, and stop boats carrying migrants from landing in Australia.

Kevin Rudd speaks to supporters on stage as he concedes in the 2013 Australian election at The Gabba on 7 September

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd conceded that he had lost and also announced to supporters he would step down as Labor leader.

A family votes a polling station at Sydney's Bondi Beach

The election ended six years of government by Labor, which had survived as a minority administration since 2010.

A drawing depicting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and leader of the conservatives Tony Abbott

For many Australians, the choice was about who they hated the least rather than who they liked the most.

Two surfers walk past residents as they line up to vote

Pundits said Australians were fed up with Labor infighting. The opposition had been consistently ahead in opinion polls.

Franko Toller, an electoral officer at the Balmoral polling station

Voting is compulsory in Australia, and more than 14 million people were eligible to cast their ballots.

A placard showing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set up as voters line up to fill in their ballots at a polling booth at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Saturday, 7 September

Among the outsider candidates was Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who was standing for a seat in the Senate. Polls suggested he had little chance of success.