Federal Labor minister Michael Danby declares personal war against the Greens

FEDERAL Labor MP Michael Danby has declared a personal war against the Greens and will give preferences to the Liberals in his seat of Melbourne Ports.

Michael Danby

FEDERAL Labor MP Michael Danby has declared a personal war against the Greens and will give preferences to the Liberals in his seat of Melbourne Ports.

While most Labor MPs and candidates in Victoria will preference the Greens ahead of the Liberal Party, Mr Danby said his decision was ideological and kept a promise from two years ago.

But the decision has angered the Greens, who will put Mr Danby above the Liberals on their how to vote cards, in a move expected to help him retain his seat.

Great Ocean Road to get $50mil facelift

Labor confirms actors used in attack ads

Mr Danby told the Herald Sun he was "acting on principle" and living up to a promise that if the Liberals put the Greens below Labor in the seat of Melbourne, he would put the Greens below the Liberals in Melbourne Ports.

"I am keeping faith with voters after I had said I would do this," he said.

Mr Danby, who holds his seat on a margin of 7.6 per cent, said he was unsure how many of his colleagues would take a similar stand.

In the Senate, Labor is preferencing the Greens above the Liberal Party, angering many within Victorian Labor.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said at the beginning of the federal campaign he had made a "captain's call" to direct his party to put the Greens below Labor in every House of Representatives seat.

FBT grenade may blow up in PMs face

Asylum boat baby may be resettled in PNG

Mr Abbott yesterday clarified this did not mean putting the Greens "last" on all how to vote cards, because some small parties were "racist".

"But everywhere, no exceptions, the Greens are behind the Labor Party because they are economic fringe-dwellers," he said.

The Greens hit out at Mr Danby's decision.

PM to help you grow a kidney

Athletes bounce into the polls

Greens Deputy Leader and Melbourne MP Adam Bandt said: "Inner-city Labor voters will be shocked to know Labor is now preferencing the Liberals."

A Coalition spokesperson confirmed the party would preference the Greens behind Labor in Melbourne Ports, but said "Kevin Rudd is relying on Green preferences in a hope of forming a minority government".

[e-mail]