Preference deals kept to a minimum

BY ALEX MCDONALD

Labor and the Greens are the only two parties to have traded preferences on their how-to-vote leaflets.

The Greens are also advising voters to put Clover Moore second on the ballot for Lord Mayor behind Chris Harris.

“Despite our differences with Clover we acknowledge that she has been largely progressive, and we believe she remains preferable to a Mayor controlled by the ALP,” Cr Harris said.

But Meredith Burgmann said Community Labor would only preference the Greens.

“We were just too critical of Clover over her refusal to stand down from one of her two jobs,” Dr Burgmann said. “We believe she has really neglected half the city… and she hasn’t done a good enough job for us to preference her.”

The other parties are all recommending that voters stay above the line. Above the line voting means that only one group is preferenced, whereas voters who venture below the line can vote for councillors from different parties.

Number two on the Sydney Liberals’ ticket Edward Mandla said his party had no desire to do preference deals with other groups. “It’s Vote 1 Liberal, that’s it,” he said.

Another point of difference on their respective how-to-vote cards is each party’s suggestions over the ward referendum. The Clover Moore Independents want voters to oppose the plan, while Labor and the Greens will encourage voters to approve a wards-based system.