Victoria state election: Liberals flag ‘open tickets’ voting option

THE Victorian Liberals may not direct their supporters how to preference other party candidates if they run in inner-city seats, in a move that would outrage the ALP and boost the Greens.

THE Victorian Liberals may not direct their supporters how to preference other party candidates if they run in inner-city seats, in a move that would outrage the ALP and boost the Greens.

Last night, the state administrative committee met to discuss whether to run candidates in what are effectively Labor-Green contests in the seats of Northcote, Richmond, Brunswick and Melbourne.

Opinions had been split on whether to avoid the seats, or to run dead in order to maximise Upper House votes and also collect electoral money worth $6 a primary vote.

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No decision was made, with Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, state director Nick Demiris, president Michael Kroger and party vice-presidents given authority to decide later.

It is understood a compromise position has been discussed to run in some seats, but to also consider whether to avoid directing their voters how to number candidates below the Liberal candidate — leaving how to vote cards “open”.

Victoria State Liberal President Michael Kroger. Picture: Ray Strange

At most elections, the party directs voters to put the ALP above the Greens. If a decision is made to run “open tickets”, it could influence the results in several seats.

Party sources said Liberal voters followed how-to-vote cards 70-80 per cent of the time, delivering a major boost to the candidate it preferences.

Labor candidates usually benefit from this, including in 2010 when the Liberals took a firm stance that the Greens would be put last on their how- to-vote cards. But a senior Liberal source said: “We are not a preference machine for Bill Shorten, Daniel Andrews or the Labor Party.”

Some Labor figures fear open tickets could mean preferences “spray everywhere” and boost the Greens’ chances.

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