FED:Greens again deny secret preference deal

08-19-2010
FED:Greens again deny secret preference deal

CANBERRA, Aug 19 AAP - The Australian Greens continue to reject coalition claims they
have made a secret preference deal with Labor.

Saturday's election is likely to give the minor party the balance of power in the Senate
from July 2011, and possibly only its second-ever seat in the lower house.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said that Greens leader Bob Brown will be an "unofficial
cabinet minister" if the Gillard government is re-elected.

Senator Brown says his party has made no secret deals to exchange preferences with
Labor or on policies.

"I'll be available to give Tony (Abbott) some good (policy) advice if he becomes prime
minister ... and ditto for Julia Gillard," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

Senator Brown said that between 20 and 30 per cent of Greens' preferences were likely
to go the coalition on Saturday.

At the 2007 election, Greens preferences flowed to Labor at a record rate of 80 per cent.

A weekend Nielsen poll suggests the rate this election could be as high as 86 per cent.

Senator Brown is confident a carbon tax will be legislated by the new parliament, despite
opposition from both major parties.

Business supported a price on carbon because it gave them certainty and confidence, he said.

"You can't get that without a carbon price."

The Greens would also use their influence to allow parliamentarians a free vote on
same-sex marriages, Senator Brown said.

Both major parties oppose gay marriage, despite the views of some individual MPs and senators.

AAP sld/rl/apm

KEYWORD: POLL10 GREENS

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