An e-mail to Peter Garrett
Posted by Campbell on | November 23, 2006
TO: Peter Garrett MP
CC: Fiona Richardson, Alex Bhatal, Greg Barber
Dear Peter
Thank you for your letter earlier this week regarding Greens preferences in this weekend’s election in Victoria.
I am a bit confused about the second paragraph which states that “If you’re thinking of voting for the Greens in Northcote you should be aware of the preference deal between the Greens and the Liberal Party which greatly increases the Liberal’s election chances in a number of critical seats.”
Having received your letter I looked through the ‘How to Vote’ information on the Greens website (http://www.vic.greens.org.au/2006Election/how_to_vote).
In Northcote the Greens first preference is, understandably, for their own candidate, followed by an independent 2nd, the ALP candidate 3rd, the Liberal candidate 4th and the Family First candidate 5th.
If my reading of the Greens’ ‘How to Vote’ information is correct, the Greens are preferencing the ALP candidate ahead of the Liberal candidate in 60 out of the 88 seats in the Legislative Assembly. In the remaining 28 seats I would classify the Greens preferences as neutral- they either outline the options of voting Greens with ALP or Liberal preferences or direct voters to put the Green candidate first then number all the remaining boxes in the order of the voter’s choice.
I don’t understand how this “greatly increases the Liberal’s election chances in a number of critical seats.”
Have I misunderstood something? Are you aware of other information that I’ve not been able to access?
For myself the question is somewhat academic. Having studied the Victorian electoral system in Grade 5 at Melton Primary School I will, as always, make up my own mind about my voting preferences without relying on any party or candidate’s how to vote card. However I am concerned that others may be similarly confused and possibly even misled by your letter.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Your sincerely
Campbell
address, etc
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November 27th, 2006 @ 1:28 pm
that is bad news. i would have expected better of peter.
maybe he has a “short memory, must have a, shor - or - ort mem - o- ry.”