The Greens will resubmit legislation outlawing preference deals, South Australian Senator, Sarah Hanson Young, told reporters Brisbane yesterday.
“Voters are angry that the compulsory preferential system means they have to support one of the parties that have made such a mess of things,” said Joe Ebono, The Greens candidate for Richmond.
"Let's give voters the opportunity to say where their vote goes." said Senator Hanson-Young.
She said the election was too close to call.
The Greens in Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Northern Rivers and Ballina, voted not to direct voters to support the Labor Party.
“The implications of that are simple,” Mr Ebono said.
“People voting Greens for the first time can put me number one and their traditional party number two. If I don't win, their vote goes back to their old party.”
The Greens have come under increasing pressure regarding preferences in this election because it is likely they will determine the outcome of the election.
“The Greens are now a significant force in politics and it is time we stood up as a party in our own right,” Mr Ebono said. “The people of Richmond have a clear choice between old parties that want to dig up and sell the entire country for short term gain and The Greens who want to see steady, sustainable growth.”
Richmond has the highest Green vote outside the capital cities and is the sixth greenest seat in the nation.