Qld: Greens decide not to allocate preferences

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2006
Qld: Greens decide not to allocate preferences

BRISBANE, Dec 3 AAP - Labor will face a tougher battle to win marginal seats at the
next state election with the Queensland Greens today deciding not to allocate preferences.

The Greens have traditionally left it to party branches to decide on preferences.

But the party's state council today decided to make it a statewide policy at the next
election not to preference any major party.

The Greens' 75 candidates secured almost eight per cent of first preference votes at
the September 9 election and the party's preferences were crucial for Labor in a number
of marginal seats.

Greens spokesman Drew Hutton said it was also possible the party could run a "just
vote one" campaign, which could cause even greater problems for Labor.

"You would find a whole swag of seats being lost for Labor at the next election," Mr Hutton said.

"The Beattie government is so far behind the eight ball in important areas like climate
change, energy, water and accountability - they are an appalling government."

AAP pjo/cjh/de

KEYWORD: GREENS QLD

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