Qld election: Greens claim they’re set to take three Brisbane seats at expense of Labor minister, MPs

Labor has attacked the Greens, accusing them of striking a backdoor preference deal with the LNP, after the minor party claimed it was poised to steal several key inner-city seats

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has launched a scathing attack on the Greens after the party claimed it was poised to steal several key Labor inner-city seats at the upcoming state election, accusing the minor party of striking a backdoor preference deal with the LNP.

The Queensland Greens have sensationally claimed they are on track to boot three Labor MPs – including a powerful minister – from parliament with a surge in support across Brisbane.

The minor party has long been expected to challenge Labor and the LNP in six inner- city seats at the October 26 poll and now insists it is on track to win three of them from the state government.

High-profile Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace is most at risk in her New Farm-based seat of McConnel.

Ms D’Ath, who after a decade will retire from politics in October, said on Saturday that the Greens were “happy to do deals” with the LNP to get more members into parliament.

“I’m not quite sure why the Greens are celebrating the fact that a vote for them will put David Crisafulli into government,” she said.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has launched a scathing attack on the Greens. Picture: Liam Kidston

“As much as the Greens say they don’t align themselves with that (LNP government), they’re happy to do deals if it means they can get members into parliament.

“The Greens aren’t going to go out and say we did a preference deal so that we can take those seats, but that is the reality.”

The Greens have claimed they are on track to win at least three major Brisbane seats, including Senior Minister Grace Grace’s seat of McConnel.

First-term Labor MP Jonty Bush is also at risk in Cooper – centred in Ashgrove – and deputy speaker Joe Kelly faces defeat in Greenslopes, the Greens say.

Joe Kelly MP. Picture: Liam Kidston

Jonty Bush MP Member for Cooper. Picture: Liam Kidston

While Ms D’Ath issued a plea to voters to not replace Labor MPs with Greens members, she refused to concede that the polling showed a progressive swing among inner-city residents.

“This is just hypothetical, this is what the Greens are saying they think will happen,” she said, reiterating again that Labor needed to retain the seats to stay in government.

“It’s about being honest about what the outcome will be.

“The public have a right to know, because they don’t always realise what those preferences can lead to.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli laughed when asked whether he had struck a deal with the Greens, but did not deny a possible preference agreement with the minor party, only saying they traditionally preferenced Labor.

“The only way they (Labor) would survive the election is with Green preferences,” he said.

“And the Attorney-General knows that.”

Airing his concerns over a “dangerous with a capital D” Labor-Green preference partnership,

Mr Crisafulli said if elected, the LNP would abolish mandatory preference voting for state elections.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: David Clark

“The Attorney-General had an opportunity to strike a deal with everybody when we voted and put forward legislation in the parliament that would have removed this ridiculous compulsory preference,” he said.

“If government changes in October, that’ll be the last time you have to vote for people who you don’t want to vote for.”

Strategists for the Greens say that they are edging closer to unseating former transport minister Mark Bailey, who has been doorknocking his electorate.

YouGov polling for The Courier-Mail in July put the Greens’ vote at 10 per cent across Queensland.

Party strategists insist its primary vote is highest – between 31 and 36 per cent – in those four inner-city seats they are focused on.

They argue the high number of renters and younger demographic in the four seats are contributing to surging support for the Greens.

To win the four inner-city seats the Greens will argue the choice is between them and Labor – and they must secure a higher first preference vote than the government to win.

While the party’s strategists are optimistic of winning more seats, there is concern South Brisbane could return to Labor if its vote strengthens and the LNP preferences Barbara O’Shea.

Queensland Labor State Secretary Kate Flanders questioned the optimism and said cheaper public transport fares and the government’s emissions reduction targets were resonating with voters.

Education Minister Grace Grace. Photo: Tara Croser.

“We are feeling incredibly positive about those seats where we have really active and progressive members who are connected to their communities,” she said. “Every election is difficult. We think Grace Grace, Jonty Bush and Joe Kelly are all really great advocates for their communities.”

Greens operatives insist their win prediction is accurate, noting the methodology previously foreshadowed its victories in Griffith, South Brisbane and Maiwar.

However, the party’s goal of winning up to 10 seats at the Brisbane City Council election in March failed to eventuate.

Greens MP Amy MacMahon, who unseated former deputy premier Jackie Trad to win South Brisbane in 2020, tipped she’ll soon have more colleagues in parliament.

“We’re on the edge of a huge breakthrough that would break apart the two-party system in Queensland,” she said.

“With a solid block of six or more Greens MPs in parliament, fighting for everyday people, Queensland politics would never be the same again.

“Our volunteers have already had tens of thousands of conversations with regular people who are fed up with Labor and the LNP letting big corporations, banks and landlords rip them off.”