Labor chooses Greens deal over Family FirstBy Lachlan Heywood
October 27, 2007 12:00am

LABOR has lost its chance of securing Family First preferences after moving to stitch up a deal with the Greens.

Greens leader Bob Brown yesterday said a deal to swap preferences with Labor in all states except Tasmania was close to being finalised.

"We're working very hard and we're coming very close to getting a preference arrangement for a swap with the Labor Party," Senator Brown said.

"That will be marginal seats on the mainland. In the Lower House, the Greens' preferences will be directed to Labor in return for the states and territories Labor preferences going to the Greens (in the Senate)."

Family First leader Steve Fielding said Labor's "grubby" deal with was a complete sell-out on Australian families.

"It virtually hands the Greens the balance of power in the Senate and control of everything that happens in Australia, which is horrifying," he said.

Senator Fielding said Family First was willing to do a preference deal with the major parties, but Labor walked away from negotiations because they preferred the Greens.

"Family First stands for balance and common sense yet Labor has instead opted for the extreme Greens who will hold the Government to ransom to dictate their dangerous agenda."

Labor frontbencher Stephen Conroy said no deals had been decided.

"Let's wait and see what is announced as opposed to what various people claim," he said.

Greens Senate candidate for Queensland, Larissa Waters, and Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett will also make a joint announcement about preferences in Brisbane today.

So Family First is spitting chips because they missed out on their own grubby deal and complaining about the one the Greens got. Didn't family first only get in on a lot of preference deals?

Jasin wrote on Dec 3^rd, 2018 at 8:30pm:


You are kidding right ???? 2007 ???