But the multitudes waiting to find out which side of politics would form Australia's next government have just been subjected to some particularly cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of the independent MP Rob Oakeshott.

It was hardly an edifying performance for an MP who has spent the last two weeks espousing transparency, short answers in parliamentary Question Time and putting the national interest first.

Mr Oakeshott and his fellow independent MP Tony Windsor started their press conference just after 3pm in Parliament's main committee room.

Public interest was intense following Bob Katter's decision earlier in the day to back the Coalition.

Katter's move meant there were two possible outcomes depending on how both Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor jumped.

Labor would form government if both backed Julia Gillard; but if they split two ways, then it would be deadlocked at 75 votes for a Labor minority government and 75 for a Coalition minority government.

The contrast between how the two independents presented themselves was stark.

Mr Windsor made a couple of succinct opening remarks, declared that he would support Labor and made some brief comments about the reasons for his decision.

Then he handed over to Mr Oakeshott who decided to play the moment for all it was worth, by holding back his actual decision and instead running through all of the reasons, factors and issues which had preyed on his mind.

It was not until 26 minutes after the press conference had started that Mr Oakeshott finally shared with the public his decision on the final vote that would either give Australia a government or send it back to an election.

At one point he deliberately played up the suspense, saying that the numbers on the floor of the House could still go either 76-74 Ms Gillard's way or be deadlocked 75 votes apiece.

When he finally announced his decision, Julia Gillard and the entire Labor Party will have breathed a sigh of relief at finally falling over the line.