Instead, it would prefer Prime Minister Scott Morrison call a general election.

"He has actually spent this whole campaign arguing that if we got the result we got last night it would cause instability in people's lives and in the economy," manager of opposition business Tony Burke told ABC Insiders on Sunday.

"Now, I don't see how he can argue that and not then say that we have to have an election."

Mr Burke signalled Labor would be unlikely to put forward a no-confidence motion in the government, which would need 76 votes to succeed.

"We want to see a Shorten Labor government be elected at a general election. That's what we want to see," he said.

Mr Burke said the coalition government had shown many times "they are incapable of governing, even with a majority. Now we have a hung parliament."

Independent, former AMA president Kerryn Phelps, on Saturday won the eastern Sydney seat vacated by Malcolm Turnbull after he was rolled as prime minister.

When she takes up her seat, there will be a crossbench of six members in the lower house, with Labor holding 69 seats.

Dr Phelps has all but ruled out helping force an early election or supporting a no-confidence motion in the government.

Mr Burke defended Labor's campaign, saying its candidate Tim Murray ran a good campaign but it was a tall ask for him to win.

"The people of Wentworth knew exactly what they were doing and a large number of Labor voters did decide the best way to make sure the Liberals didn't win was to vote directly for Kerryn Phelps and that was how it went yesterday."

Australian Associated Press