Today star Karl Stefanovic makes dark prediction about Peter Dutton's political future - as he attends Liberal Election Night party
Karl Stefanovic has made a telling prediction about Peter Dutton's political future in the Liberal party, as the Opposition Leader attended an election night party amid the vote count on Saturday.
The Today host, 50, believes Dutton, 54, will be rolled as the leader of the Opposition if he fails to secure an upset victory in the federal election tonight.
Speaking from the W Hotel in Brisbane's inner-city this evening, Stefanovic said Dutton would need a miracle to win when the votes were counted tonight—and that his entire political career was at stake.
'It's certainly the calm before the storm here at Liberal party headquarters in Brisbane,' he said.
'Peter arrived a short time ago with his entire family straight upstairs, where they'll watch those all-important numbers come in.
'It is a huge mountain to climb and he left no stone unturned during this five-week campaign, crisscrossing the nation from end to end, doing something in the order of 60,000km to try and secure every possible vote.'
Karl Stefanovic, 50, has made a telling prediction about Peter Dutton's, 54, political future in the Liberal party, as the Opposition Leader attended an election night party amid the vote count on Saturday
Stefanovic added: 'But it is a massive mountain for him to climb, there is no doubt about that.'
Stefanovic said Dutton would 'need a miracle of 2019 magnitude' when then Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison pulled off an upset victory against Labor leader Bill Shorten.
'That's exactly what they'll need, if not more,' Stefanovic said.
'You have the feeling, though, if things don't go his way, it may not just be the leadership of the country that is up for grabs tonight, but possibly leadership of the Coalition.
'Let's see how things pan out.'
It comes as Labor has shown an early lead in Tasmania, Daily Mail Australia political editor Peter van Onselen says.
'Something interesting is going on in Tasmania in the early counting. It's early but Labor is tracking well in both Bass and Braddon,' van Onselen said.
'If the Liberals lost both seats any chance of winning can be officially ruled out. It would also mean no Liberal held seats in Tasmania.
The Today host believes Dutton will be rolled as the leader of the Opposition if he fails to secure an upset victory in the federal election tonight
'In both 1993 and 2004 early results out of Tasmania quashed opposition attempts to win government. It happened to John Hewson's Liberals in 1993 and Mark Latham's Labor Party in 2004.
'Could history be repeating itself this year for Dutton's opposition? Maybe, but it's early and I keep reminding readers that when pre-poll votes land later they will favour the Liberals.
'But swings to Labor in Tasmania are a concern for Liberals if the early results become a pattern.'
The ABC's Antony Green also pointed out 'big swings' toward Labor in Tasmania during the early vote count.
'There is only five (Tasmanian) electorates and one of them is rock solid and if you look at the change in vote that is occurring there, a big swing to (Labor) and a big swing against the LNP,' he said.
'All of the electorates are showing a significant swing so it's not just one or two polling places, there is something else going on there.'
Green added that 'only time will tell if these figures are indicative'.
Australians are anxiously awaiting the news of who will lead the nation for the next three years.
Speaking from the W Hotel in Brisbane 's inner-city this evening, Stefanovic said Dutton would need a miracle to win when the votes were counted tonight—and that his entire political career was at stake
If Anthony Albanese is victorious, he will be the first Prime Minister to be granted a second term since former Liberal leader John Howard in 2004.
If Peter Dutton is handed the top job, it will mark the first time a first-term government has been kicked out of office since 1931.
Polls have now closed on the east coast, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of the Federal Election results.
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