Labor has successfully formed a minority federal government after clinching the support of independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.

After 17 days of uncertainty, regional NSW MPs Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott finally decided to throw their support behind the Labor Party.

The decision will see Julia Gillard remain as prime minister after taking a narrow margin in the House of Representatives, 76 to 74.

Queensland independent Bob Katter announced his decision to back the Coalition in a hung parliament in an interview with journalists in his Canberra office earlier this afternoon.

Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor announced their decision at a press conference at 3pm today AEST.

In what he described as a very difficult decision, Mr Oakeshott said he had dealt with splits in the community and splits in his family on which party to back.

“It is not a mandate for anyone, nor is it an endorsement,” Mr Oakeshott said.

Mr Oakeshott said he was “thoroughly unimpressed” with the political parties in Australia.

Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott had been negotiating with both Ms Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott since the August 21 election.

“I want to thank both leaders for the way they’ve treated us during this process,” Mr Windsor said before announcing his decision.

Both leaders made their final pitches to the independents today.

Labor required just two of the three MPs to form a minority government, while the coalition required all three.

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The Nurses Association has again ruled out any immediate strike action, following the latest hearing over a new Hunter New England Health rostering system.

The union will continue to meet with the health service over the next week.

Below is statement from FFA boss Ben Buckley, after a day of talks on the future of the financially stricken Newcastle Jets

Football Federation Australia today announced it would be providing short term
financial assistance to the Newcastle Jets whilst it continued to work with the club
to determine its long term future.

“There are a range of complex issues that we’re discussing with various stakeholders
and this will enable us to hold these discussions and at the same time take some
important immediate steps including ensuring players’ current entitlements are met,”
said CEO Ben Buckley.

“The Club has a proud history and great spirit evidenced not the least by the
players’ approach to the current issues and their strong performance on the weekend.

“I’d like to acknowledge the responsible approach the players have been taking and
assure supporters that the next couple of Jets’ Hyundai A-League games will go ahead
as planned.

“As well as providing the Club with an opportunity to address its current challenges
FFA’s interim support will also provide an opportunity for the local community to
come out and show its support for the future of the Club.”

There are fears Newcastle’s ailing CBD will never be revitalised, unless the city gets a major attraction to draw people in.

And a historian says the key to Newcastle’s future could lie in the past.

A new invention to keep those swooping magpies away has local bikeriders in a spin.

It’s a wind powered deterrent aimed at keeping cyclists safe throughout the season.

Coffs Harbour’s museum is to get a new home after its original location was flooded last year.

The Coffs Harbour City Council has acquired the heritage-listed former court house and police station in Harbour Drive.

The council paid $800,000 for the building when it was auctioned on Saturday.

The museum currently has its material stored at the Bunker Gallery but will now move into the Harbour Drive premises in December.

The weather board building was constructed in 1906.

There’s big news in Hunter politics tonight, with Cessnock MP Kerry Hickey confirming he won’t re-contest his state seat at the March election.

It follows a difficult few weeks, after it was revealed he secretly fathered a child with a parliamentary staffer.

Mr Hickey had separated from his wife before the relationship began.

Today he told NBN News, “12 years is a long time in the job, all of the decisions I’ve made have been for the right reasons.”

He’s been the state Member for Cessnock since 1999.

The approval for a Woolworths supermarket at Mullumbimby was a long and contentious affair so it’s not surprising its construction is now making waves.

A group of Aboriginal people is staging a sit-in saying they weren’t consulted about use of the land.

There’s been a dangerous rescue on the Gold Coast of a young whale caught in shark nets.

It took three hours to free the animal which was the first to be entangled this migration season.

Newcastle Jets players and staff have gone unpaid for the second straight week.

The clash with Brisbane will still go ahead this Sunday, but Monday is looming as D-Day, when the footballers’ association arrives in Newcastle to try and resolve the situation.

The father of a young man left with brain damage after a car crash, is hoping to prevent similar tragedies by using music.

Jamie Pallier’s produced a CD called Changing Lanes, which sends a strong message that drink driving kills.

The theatre has long been a powerful tool when it comes to tackling tough topics.

Now mental illness is taking centre stage in a play that offers hope of creating understanding and changing attitudes.

A fire in the Hexham Swamp has highlighted one of Newcastle’s dirty secrets.

Thousands of dumped tyres are not only proving to be a fire hazard, but an environmental liability.

A family of six has had to make a quick escape from their burning Burleigh Waters home.

Police are investigating possible arson, amid reports the home’s owner is caught up in a business dispute.

Firefighters on the mid north coast have been rocked by two fatal road accidents.

A 39-year-old fireman died in a five vehicle collision on the Pacific Highway at Nambucca Heads…

And just hours later at Woolgoolga, a fireman arrived at the scene of a second deadly crash, only to find the victim was his daughter.

A Lake Macquarie p-plater was killed and another person injured in a three-car collision on the New England Highway at Maitland this morning.

Police say the 21 year old lost control of his utility in the wet.

A motorist has been killed and three others taken to hospital with serious injuries, after a tragic accident north of Nambucca Heads.

A Newcastle magistrate has criticised the defence and prosecution, for delays in the drugs cases against former Knights players, Danny Wicks and Chris Houston.

Both were excused from court today but the magistrate, Elaine Truscott, told their solicitors and prosecutors, “I don’t understand what the delay is? These matters have been adjourned and adjourned. It’s not good enough.”

Wicks’s solicitor, Mark Hanlon, explained that he is waiting on documents.

While Houston’s solicitor, Peter Harper, blamed the delay on the matter being recently re-allocated within the DPP.

Both cases were adjourned to the 23rd of this month.

A third man has been charged with murder over the shooting death of a 21-year-old man at Raymond Terrace in June.

The 18-year-old from Grafton was arrested at about 11am at Belmont Police Station, and was refused bail.

Joshua Dillon Maynard was shot following an alleged street brawl, he died a short time later.

Seven people have now been arrested over the incident.

Brothers John and Chad Shedden are also charged with murder and appeared via videolink in Newcastle Local Court today.

Their cases were adjourned to the 13th of October.

Researchers say a new approach to asthma treatment appears to be working.

A drug being trialled around the world is offering hope to chronic sufferers.