Fed: Coalition members clash over One Nation preferences

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2001
Fed: Coalition members clash over One Nation preferences

CANBERRA, Aug 20 AAP - Clashes have resurfaced within the federal coalition over preference
deals with One Nation following the Northern Territory election.

NT Labor leader Clare Martin has said the Country Liberal Party was punished in the
weekend election for allocating preferences to One Nation ahead of Labor in five seats.

Federal CLP Senator Grant Tambling agreed the move backfired.

"By doing a preference trade it was seen as offensive by many of the ethnic groups
in the northern suburbs of Darwin and that certainly contributed very strongly to this
campaign."

Senior government MPs have urged all coalition members to fall in line with Prime Minister
John Howard's wishes and put One Nation last on how-to-vote cards.

"As far as the federal party is concerned our position is absolutely clear and I think
that others will accept that that is the way things are," Workplace Relations Minister
Tony Abbott told ABC radio.

Family and Community Services Minister Amanda Vanstone focused on Western Australian
MPs, urging them to put One Nation last.

But WA Liberal Senator Ross Lightfoot effectively told Senator Vanstone to butt out.

"We don't take very kindly to that sort of advice," he told ABC radio.

"They're a bit limp-wristed when it comes to making decisions of that nature, that's
far better off left to us in Western Australia to decide."

The WA Liberal Party has left the door open to deals with One Nation in the federal
poll after the loss to Labor in the February state election was blamed on the party's
refusal to entertain One Nation preference deals.

WA Liberal Party Leader Colin Barnett defended the branch's decision.

"In Western Australia all we have said is that we won't necessarily put One Nation
last, we may well put Labor last on the how-to-vote ticket and I have also said in Western
Australia that in no way will we doing any sort of deal or electoral arrangement with
One Nation," Mr Barnett told ABC radio.

ALP national president Greg Sword said the NT result showed Mr Howard still had problems
with One Nation.

"He has a problem in Western Australia which he hasn't resolved and I think the NT
result is just another example of what happens when you don't take a very strong position,"

Mr Sword said.

Liberal Party federal director Lynton Crosby agreed the NT outcome highlighted how
carefully the One Nation issue needed to be managed.

"Otherwise you let that issue dominate the political agenda," he told ABC radio.

National Party Senator Ron Boswell, who almost lost his preselection earlier this year
over One Nation preferences, said the NT election proved voters had rejected One Nation.

"The lesson is very clear - deal with One Nation and you will be dealt out of government,"

Senator Boswell said today.

AAP eg/ph/br

KEYWORD: POLLNT NATION LEAD

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