Premier Gladys Berejiklian rules out deal with One Nation
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has ruled out preferencing One Nation at the March election.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has ruled out preferencing One Nation at the March election.
After yesterday repeatedly refusing to answer the question in the wake of Mark Latham joining the NSW outfit of the party, she today said the Liberal party would not be backing Pauline Hanson’s party.
She also said the coalition won’t preference the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers.
Yesterday I was asked repeatedly what my position was in relation to preferences and I indicated my strong view, which I do today, that people want to see me and my government focus on the issues that matter to them.
“They want us to be a strong government and to keep working for the people of NSW however I don’t want to be distracted by other issues. So I am very happy today to say today the Liberal party will not preference One Nation,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We also will not preference the Shooters and I ask the Labor party to do the same.
“It is not appropriate to support policies which advocate giving guns to 10-year-olds. So we will rule out preference One Nation, we will also rule out preferencing the Shooters and I call on NSW Labor party to do the same.”
Ms Berejiklian wouldn’t say who the party would preference.
“Obviously I really don’t want to have to be talking about these issues five months out from the election because my preference is to focus on the issues that matter to the people of NSW, to focus on my issue as Premier. But I don’t want to be distracted so that’s why today I’m ruling out doing a deal with One Nation or the Shooters and I call on Labor party to do the same.”
Yesterday Ms Berejiklian was asked seven times whether the Coalition would consider a deal, but she dodged questions by insisting she was focused on her job, not the “politics of politics”.
Opposition Leader Luke Foley immediately ruled out a deal after it was revealed former Labor leader Mark Latham joined One Nation.
“NSW Labor will not do any preference deals with One Nation,” Mr Foley tweeted this morning.
“We will not preference One Nation candidates anywhere in NSW.
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