ONE Nation has preferenced Labor ahead of the LNP in the North Queensland seats of Hinchchinbrook and Burdekin.
Member for Hinchinbrook, Andrew Cripps, said One Nation still has not woken up to the fact that by placing Labor ahead of the LNP, One Nation is saying it prefered the Palaszczuk Labor Government and its policies.
“It’s printed on their own voting card: a vote for One Nation is a vote for Labor,” Mr Cripps said.
“I don’t believe the people of the Hinchinbrook electorate want the Palaszczuk government re-elected with the help of preferences from One Nation, but that’s what One Nation has done.”
In Hinchinbrook, One Nation has listed the Katter Party’s Nick Dametto, NQ State Party’s Peter Raffles, and the ALP’s Paul Jacob all ahead of the LNP’s Andrew Cripps. The only candidate ranked below the LNP is the Greens’ Lyle Burness.
In Burdekin, One Nation has handed its support to Labor’s Mike Brunker ahead of sitting LNP member, Dale Last, with the Greens’ candidate Mathew Bing in last place.
The cards do not indicate which party the opposing candidates belong to, but does include the statement: “This is the One Nation guide. However, you own your own preferences.”
Mr Cripps said One Nation’s support for Labor could see the return of anti-farmer laws including winding back the common sense legisation currently in place for vegetation management. It would also place pressure on sugar marketing choice laws, which Labor has vigorously opposed.
“People who were thinking about voting One Nation in Hinchinbrook might want to think again,” Mr Cripps said. “Did you expect your preferences to go to Labor? Do you want the Palaszczuk Government re-elected?”