Senate preference deals cause confusion for Greens, Sex Party & WikiLeaks
Controversy spread quickly within progressive political quarters over the weekend after it was revealed the likes of the Greens, Sex Party and WikiLeaks Party would be favouring conservative parties such as One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Party in their Senate preference deals ahead of next month’s federal election.
The Sex Party and others defended their Upper House tactics this week as being necessary for a system they say requires an overhaul, as it unfairly privileges major parties over minor ones.
August 17 was the deadline for political parties to lodge their Senate preferences deals with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), with the AEC publishing the list the following day on its website. The document shows the Greens will favour preferences towards Palmer’s United Party candidates, the Sex Party will direct preferences towards One Nation over other progressive parties while WikiLeaks will favour far-right parties, including the white nationalist Australia First Party.
The preference deals resulted in members of the Sex Party and Greens attacking each other, while WikiLeaks was forced to issue a press release which blamed its preferences on an “administrative error”.
Sex Party spokesperson Robbie Swan told the Star Observer progressive parties were caught in a bind if they did not direct some preferences towards groups many of their supporters would find unappealing.
“The system forces the Greens, the Sex Party, WikiLeaks – and any of the progressive parties – to deal with the devil in these preference deals,” Swan said.
“In a way, all those progressive minor parties – only one third of the total parties contesting – they have to preference somewhere along the line some of these right-wing or religious parties ahead of some of the other major parties.”
Eligible voters can either vote above or below the line, with many opting for the simpler, above-the-line option, leaving the political party of choice to direct the flow of preferences. Swan said it was that system which needed an overhaul, suggesting the AEC consider allowing people to vote in a manner similar to how preferential voting works in the Lower House. Any worried voters, Swan suggests, should take the time to fill out the entire form below the line.
“At the end of the day, it’s just crazy stuff because all it does it weaken the coalition of parties that genuinely support LGBTI issues,” Swan said. “We need to pull together and forget this and look towards beating the conservatives.”
Silly article that makes it seem like the others have preferenced One Nation.
No just the Sex Party. Crucially it is Pauline Hanson these preferences will elect. Shame on the Sex Party and Fiona Patten giving such a lame excuse.
Pathetic.
What a farce. The Sex Party have traded heavily off the back of our community. It’s low that they would play such a dirty, dangerous and opportunistic game, rather then hold some simple principals.
The Sex Party may well put homophobic Hanson in the Parliament where she will have political leverage. This election is the worst ever, now that even the minors are up to their necks in the cesspool.
You didn’t read the story. The writer was trying to point out that all the progressive minor parties have to do some deals with the right and religious parties or they don’t get elected. Look at the ballot paper and many of the house of Reps how to vote cards. Much of the time eight out of ten parties standing are religious right or far right parties. Its terrifying! This is exactly what the religious right wants now. For the three progressive parties to start eating themselves. Three progressive parties are contesting this election. Greens, Sex Party and Wikileaks. There are five christian parties and five far right parties!! Anyway the Sex Party’s Senate team in QLd is I think the first ever openly out LGBTI ticket ever run in Australia so I reckon that says more about them than the fact that they put Pauline Hanson at number 38 on their ticket. Do the math.
Actually Bob, the entirety of the Australian Democrats 2010 Senate ticket was LGBT in the 2010 federal election. And when it comes to the numbers, if the preferences fall so that the final seat in NSW comes down to the Greens or One Nation and Pauline Hanson – Hanson would win on Sex preferences. It doesn’t matter how far down, eventually those preferences get distributed if the quota of senators in the half-election hasn’t yet been filled. It is a very real problem facing voters in New South Wales in this election.
*Democrats New South Wales senate ticket