"I rule that out"PM URGED TO 'PLACE PRINCIPLES OVER POLITICS'

Albanese rules out Greens deal

Albanese did not commit to preferencing the Coalition over the Greens, saying said that was a decision made by the organisation and ultimately decided by the individual voter.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: Giselle Haber
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: Giselle Haber

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s commitment not to make any deals with the Greens has been welcomed, but Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said the issues around preferences are “somewhat different”.

Last week, ECAJ and the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) jointly called on both major parties not to form a minority government with the Greens. They also requested the opposing parties to preference each other above the Greens.

“By committing to preference each other ahead of the Greens, the government and opposition would send a clear message that hatred, extremism, antisemitism and the politics of division will not be tolerated or rewarded,” the joint statement said.

Speaking to Sky News, Albanese then ruled out making a deal with the Greens if Labor fails to win majority government at the next federal election.

“Absolutely. I rule that out,” said Albanese.

“I’m the only candidate for Prime Minister seeking a government in our own right and there’ll be no deals with the Greens. I want a majority Labor government and the best way that that can be achieved is by people voting Labor in the election when it’s held.”

But Albanese did not commit to preferencing the Coalition over the Greens, saying said that was a decision made by the organisation and ultimately decided by the individual voter.

Under electoral rules, votes are transferred between candidates according to the preferences marked by electors.

“It was good to hear the Prime Minister commit not to do any deals with the Greens if Labor needs to form a minority government in a future second term,” said Wertheim.

“The question of preferences is somewhat different. Given the extreme positions the Greens have adopted on a range of local and overseas issues, even at times descending into antisemitism, both major parties should be able to place principles above politics and agree to direct their second preferences away from the Greens. I think many Australians, and not only people in the Jewish community, are concerned about the growing social divisions which the Greens have helped to stoke, and will be looking carefully at what decisions the major parties ultimately make about preferences.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it would be, “in our country’s best interests if we were able to arrive at an agreement with the Labor Party to put the Greens last”.

“The ball is in the Prime Minister’s court,” said Dutton, who also confirmed that the Coalition would have no relationship with the Greens following the next federal poll.

“There will be no deals done – none whatsoever – by the Coalition to form government with the antisemitic Greens,” he said.

Despite Albanese’s refusal to work with the Greens if the government fell into minority, according to The Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt has expressed his willingness to work with Labor, “even if Labor isn’t”.

“The Prime Minister needs to stop blocking and start negotiating, and respect the parliament that the people of Australia elect,” said Bandt.

read more:
comments