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Peter Dutton’s warning as Greens beg voters for hung parliament

Greens leader Adam Bandt has told voters they have the ability to usher in “a golden era of progressive reform” with this move.

The Greens in decline among young voters

Greens leader Adam Bandt says a power-sharing deal with Labor would usher in a “golden era of progressive reform”.

Speaking in Melbourne on Thursday, Mr Bandt said the upcoming federal election “could result in a minority parliament that could see us getting dental and mental health into Medicare, being able to go and see the GP for free, building homes that renters and first-home buyers can afford, wiping student debt and fully funding our public schools”.

“With commentators predicting a 98 per cent chance of a minority parliament, voters in Wills have a real chance to keep Peter Dutton out but also get Labor to act on the key crises that are facing the community,” Mr Bandt said.

Peter Dutton has told voters they cannot afford a power-sharing deal between Labor and the Greens. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan
Peter Dutton has told voters they cannot afford a power-sharing deal between Labor and the Greens. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

The Greens leader’s comments come after he told the Guardian: “A minority parliament can keep Peter Dutton out and get those progressive reforms that I think will set the country up for generations.”

The latest Freshwater Strategy poll on Australians’ preferred party shows the Coalition leading Labor by 51 per cent to 49 per cent for the second month in a row.

If replicated at the ballot box this year, Labor would be unable to form a majority government on its own.

Speaking in Tasmania on Thursday, Mr Dutton told voters that a minority Labor government with Adam Bandt and the Greens would drop them “like a hot potato”.

Anthony Albanese previously said there would be no deal with the Greens. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Anthony Albanese previously said there would be no deal with the Greens. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“If we have a Bandt-Albanese government after the election, you can forget about salmon farming and you can forget about the forestry industry here in Tasmania,” Mr Dutton said.

Anthony Albanese previously said “there will be no deal with the Greens” but declined to comment further on Thursday.

“I want a majority Labor government and the best way that can be achieved is by people voting Labor in the election when it’s held,” the Prime Minister told Sky News in October.

Originally published as Peter Dutton’s warning as Greens beg voters for hung parliament

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/federal-election/peter-duttons-warning-as-greens-beg-voters-for-hung-parliament/news-story/b7ec63db80ed63911415b592089c9837