Labor strikes preferences deal with Greens, Katter to boost poll chances
LABOR will preference the Greens in the Senate in all states except Queensland in a deal the ALP hopes will improve Kevin Rudd's election chances.
Tony Abbott immediately attacked the decision as a "betrayal" of "working people" and the deal is also understood to have caused unrest in Labor's Victorian branch, which is trying to wrest Melbourne from the Greens.
In an agreement expected to help Labor in North Queensland seats targeted by Kevin Rudd, Bob Katter's party will receive Labor's preferences in Mr Rudd's home state.
In a statement today, ALP campaign headquarters said: "Labor's aim with its preference arrangements has been to deliver the best chance of winning majority government.
"And that is why we have secured a supportive preference agreement with the Katter Party in Queensland and The Greens in the Senate in other states."
