Labor won’t deal with Greens, Daniel Andrews says

LABOR will not do a deal with the Greens if it fails to win enough seats to govern Victoria outright at next month’s state election, Premier Daniel Andrews says.

LABOR won’t do a deal with the Greens if it is not re-elected outright next month, Premier Daniel Andrews says.

Recent polls tip the November 24 vote could result in a hung parliament, which would leave Labor or the Coalition likely having to deal with the Greens or independents.

But Mr Andrews on Monday ruled out any formal deal with the Greens if Labor failed to win the 45 seats required to form government.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he won’t do a deal with the Greens if he fails to win a majority at this November’s election

“I have been very clear, no deal will be offered and no deal will be done. That is my position and has been for the best part of eight years,” he said.

“Anyone who has votes on the floor of the parliament would need to make their own decision about whether they supported Labor or another government. We are running to provide a strong, stable, ­majority Labor government,” Mr Andrews said.

A ReachTEL poll has Labor on 52 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote to the Coalition’s 48 per cent, a similar margin which delivered Labor its 2014 election win.

But the Greens’ strong support in a clutch of inner-­suburban seats may leave Labor unable to form government in its own right.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said the party aimed to add to its tally of three Lower House seats in Northcote, Melbourne and Prahran.

“The polls are showing that this is going to be a very close election … with quite possibly the Greens holding the balance of power after the result,” Ms Ratnam said.

The Greens hold three seats now — Northcote, Melbourne and Prahran — and are making heavy inroads into three other inner suburban electorates leading many to speculate the Labor Party would have to form a minority government with the Greens.

Labor strategists have privately admitted they face a difficult task in holding on to the seat of Brunswick, and many have conceded that they will not regain Northcote.

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