2016-04-04
Greens MP Adam Bandt has called on Bill Shorten to rule out preferencing the Liberals ahead of the Greens at the upcoming election.
Mr Bandt said the Labor leader must overrule Labor MP Michael Danby, who told Sky News today that he will preference the Liberals in his seat of Melbourne Ports and has called on Labor to preference the Liberals ahead of the Greens in all seats.
“Labor voters would be appalled to know that Labor preferences are going to the Liberals ahead of the Greens,” Mr Bandt said.
“Bill Shorten must intervene and rule out preferencing the Liberals ahead of the Greens, including in Michael Danby’s seat.”
“Labor is abjectly begging for Liberal preferences to hold on to inner-city seats and now it seems they’re prepared to do a preference deal with the Liberals too.”
“The Greens have been very clear. I won’t be preferencing the Liberals ahead of Labor in Melbourne and we won’t be doing it anywhere else either.”
“Mr Danby also said that Labor should adopt the same policy everywhere else, including in the Senate, which would hand control of the Senate over to the Coalition.”
Mr Danby told Sky News this afternoon that “I, as in the last election, have determined that in my seat that I will be preferencing the Liberals ahead of the Green Party.”
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054