2025-10-17
Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim and former Australian Greens leader Dr Bob Brown will move a motion at the Tasmanian Greens' state conference this week calling on the party to no longer direct preferences at federal elections.
Comments attributable to Senator Nick McKim
"Labor should no longer take Greens preferences for granted."
"Labor and the Liberals are joined at the hip on environmental issues like fish farms and native forest logging, and are in lockstep on AUKUS nuclear submarines and tying Australia to the US under Donald Trump."
"And right now Labor is negotiating with the Liberals to weaken Australia's environment laws, just as they did in the last parliament."
"Teal candidates do not direct preferences, neither do independents like Andrew Wilkie, and Labor did not preference the Greens in Macnamara in this year's federal election.
"We trust our voters to make their own decisions on preferences, and our motion recognises that trust."
Comments attributable to Dr Bob Brown:
"There is a two-word reason to support this motion: Murray Watt."
The full text of the motion:
State Conference agrees that:
- The Tasmanian Greens will not direct preferences at future Federal elections, noting that this may be altered depending on circumstances.
- The Tasmanian Greens will put this resolution to the Australian Greens National Council for adoption nationally.
Moved by Bob Brown and Senator Nick McKim.