Greens threaten Labor, LNP on preferences Lisa Martin
March 30, 2011 - 3:04PM
.AAP

The Queensland Greens might withhold preferences from both major parties at the next state election.

Greens spokeswoman Libby Connors says the party will discuss the preference issue in coming months.

In Queensland, where there is optional preferential voting, Greens preferences traditionally benefit the Labor Party.

Ms Connors says the threat not to preference Labor or the Liberal National Party (LNP) on how-to-vote cards reflects the mood of the party.

"It's geared towards explaining to voters that they assign preferences, not political parties," she told AAP.

"There has been a trend away from major party dominance for quite some time."

The Greens secured 8.37 per cent of the vote at the most recent state election, in 2009. Back then the party agreed to a preference deal in 14 out of 89 seats, encouraging people to rank Labor second.

Ms Connors said the seat of Ashgrove would prove an interesting issue for the party.

LNP leader in waiting Campbell Newman is running against Labor's environment minister Kate Jones in the seat, in Brisbane's west.

"We're waiting to see whether Campbell Newman does come out with some decent environmental policies," she said.

"At the last election Lawrence Springborg did not offer us any hopeful signs. They were hostile on a range of issues.

"Environmental issues have always had strong support in inner city seats.

"At the moment it's lots of bluff and bluster, We're waiting to see what he comes up with."

She said the issue of coal seam gas mining would be a prominent issue in the Greens' campaign.

Greens preferences only help labor so it is a good thing for the Libs. and the libs will deny them preferences as they did in Vic and NSW to such great effect.

good to see the the left making decisions that wil marginalise them even further!