Independent MP Bob Katter has announced he will back the Coalition in a hung parliament.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in his Canberra office, the Queensland MP said a variety of issues was behind his decision to support Tony Abbott.
The decision to side with Mr Abbott now gives the Coalition 74 seats, two short of the required majority to form a government.
Mr Katter told journalists that he thought the undecided independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, were likely to back Labor to form a government with Julia Gillard as prime minister.
"They have very moral convictions and they will follow through on those convictions," he said.
"I will most certainly respect whatever decision they make."
Mr Katter said he had not told Mr Abbott or Ms Gillard of his decision.
Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott are expected to make their announcement in the next few hours, though Mr Katter said his decision will have no bearing on the two.
Both Labor and the Coalition are now dependent on the decision of Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott to form a government.
If the two split in their support for Labor or the Coalition, it will leave the parliament deadlocked at 75 seats each.
Mr Katter made his decision citing concerns over agriculture, broadband, maternity leave and indigenous affairs.
He said it would have been "a different outcome" if he was negotiating with ousted prime minister Kevin Rudd.
"Kevin's thinking and my thinking are very similar — I'm very good friends with him," he said.
Was Bob Katter right in backing the Coalition? Have your say.
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