Election contests heat up as seats go down to the wire

Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie is locked in a three-way battle to retain the seat of Flinders. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Vote counting continues in close contests more than a week on from the federal election, with the fate of three seats still in doubt.

The next parliament will have fewer crossbenchers with an independent and three Greens MPs losing their seats.