Scott Morrison claims he won’t do a deal with cross bench MPs in event of hung parliament

Scott Morrison has made a big claim about the federal election and what he will do if there is a hung parliament.

Scott Morrison has claimed he won’t do a deal with independent MPs even if it means giving up his chance to be returned to power.

The Prime Minister has again ruled out negotiating with the crossbench to govern if the election results in a hung parliament where neither the Coalition nor Labor secures the 76 seats needed to form government.

In this scenario the party to govern would need to negotiate with cross bench MPs, including any Climate 200-backed “teal” independents who oust sitting Liberal MPs to make it into parliament.

Scott Morrison, pictured out campaigning on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula on Tuesday, says he won’t do a deal with independent MPs. Picture: Jason Edwards

Asked repeatedly on 3AW radio on Tuesday morning if he would really give up his chance to govern rather than negotiate with the cross bench, Mr Morrison at first avoided answering the question directly.

Mr Morrison eventually responded by saying: “Why would we?”

“Why would we want to enter into a government where they’re calling for 60 per cent reduction in emissions? I mean, we’re not going to do that,” he said.

“I mean, that would be ins — that would destroy the economy. That’s not something people would have voted for us to do.”

Dr Monique Ryan has said neither party has a strong enough policy for climate change action. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has also claimed he will not do a deal with independents and minor party MPs, saying he is confident Labor can govern in its own right.

High-profile independent candidate Monique Ryan has said she would negotiate with whichever party had stronger policies on government integrity and climate change.

The paediatric neurologist, who is threatening to unseat Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the well-heeled inner Melbourne electorate of Kooyong, has said she wants to see carbon emissions cut by 60 per cent by 2030.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has also claimed he won’t negotiate with the cross bench in the event of a hung parliament. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Morrison on Tuesday rehashed his well trodden lines that a vote for independent candidates was “vote for chaos” and a “vote for the Labor Party”.

“They want people to vote for them. But they won’t tell people who they’re going to vote for, or what they’re going to vote for,” he said.

Mr Morrison said having the Coalition in a majority government over the past three years meant they had been able to smoothly enact important policies.

“We’ve been able to make decisions like (the) Jobkeeper cashflow boost, ensuring that we get on with the important security decisions and nuclear powered submarines and all of this,” he said.

“Because we haven’t been negotiating for our existence every day.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison claims he won’t do a deal with cross bench MPs in event of hung parliament