NSW election: Nationals MP unloads on Coalition partner over Greens preferences

Nationals MP Wes Fang has slammed the Liberal party over election material which encourages voters to direct preferences to Greens above Labor in inner city seats including Balmain.

Nationals MP Wes Fang is furious over the Liberals preferencing the Greens in seats including Balmain. Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

Cracks are appearing in the Coalition over claims the Liberal party have done an “underhanded deal” with the Greens.

It comes after Liberal election material encouraged voters to direct preferences to Greens candidates above Labor in a handful of inner city seats including Balmain.

In an apparent preference swap, Greens election material in Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga in turn recommended voters preference the Liberals above the Nationals candidate.

Port Macquarie is ground zero for an explosive rift in the Coalition after local MP Leslie Williams defected from the Nationals to the Liberal Party.

A Nationals candidate is trying to unseat Ms Williams to claim the seat back for the minor Coalition partner.

Election material being handed out to voters on pre-poll shows the Liberal Party preferencing Greens above Labor and the Greens preferencing Liberals above the Nationals.

Upper House Nationals MP Wes Fang on Monday slammed what he called an “underhanded deal” between the Liberals and the Greens, which he said was done to keep Ms Williams elected.

He said Ms Williams “needs to explain today what deal she has done in order to get Green preferences”.

Election material being handed out in Wagga Wagga. Picture: Supplied

Mr Fang accused the Liberals of being more interested in getting elected than in representing people in the regions.

The seat of Wagga Wagga is also a three-cornered contest, with both a Nationals candidate and Liberal candidate running.

“There’s clearly been a deal done and the people of Wagga Wagga and Port Macquarie would be alarmed and would like to know what was offered,” Mr Fang said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet denied the Liberals had done any deal with the Greens on Monday:

“there’s no deal that’s in place,” he said.

One of the inner city seats where the Liberals are recommending voters preference Greens over Labor is Balmain, where incumbent Greens MP Jamie Parker is retiring.

Labor sources believe the seat is on a knife edge, and are increasingly hopeful of reclaiming the electorate.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Labor Leader Chris Minns in Balmain on Friday.

The Greens have been devoting significant resources to holding onto Balmain with candidate Kobi Shetty.

Originally published as NSW election: Nationals MP unloads on Coalition partner over Greens preferences