The Australian share market has closed lower, with gains by the big miners unable to push the broader market into positive territory.

At the close on Tuesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 8.7 points, or 0.16 per cent, lower at 5,284.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 7.8 points, or 0.15 per cent, at 5,284.8, according to preliminary figures.

On the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was 10 points lower at 5,270, with 44,442 contracts traded.