Bill Shorten instructs unions to preference Coalition over One Nation

Bill Shorten has given his clearest warning yet to the trade unions to put One Nation last on their how-to-vote cards.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP

Bill Shorten has given his clearest warning yet to the trade unions to put One Nation last on their how-to-vote cards.

The Opposition Leader revealed today he has already reached out to trade union leaders to end their “Put the Liberals Last” campaign and would speak to them again after One Nation officials sought $20m from the US gun lobby.

“The unions are independent of us. Having said that, you know, my clear view, I’ve stated it to union leaders,” he said in Melbourne.

“I know that traditionally you say put the LNP last, but I think One Nation’s performance in recent times and that Fraser Anning, I think they have to be put last. And I will say this again.”

The Australian reported last week that the Victorian Trades Hall Council, which is the state division of the ACTU, released brochures in Health Minister Greg Hunt’s electorate of Flinders with the slogan: “Vote for someone who will represent us in parliament. Put the Liberals last.”

Trades Hall’s “put the Liberals last” campaign defied Mr Shorten’s call then to put One Nation last in the wake of the Christchurch terror attacks.

Scott Morrison again today repeated his comments that he was after One Nation’s primary votes, and is not interested in their preferences.

“What I’m talking about is directly to those who have either voted One Nation in the past, or are considering voting One Nation in the future, that across all of these smaller parties, these minor parties, you won’t find those answers there,” the Prime Minister said.

“My message to them is very simple — don’t vote One Nation. Don’t vote One Nation. Don’t vote for any of the other minor parties or the Independents.”