Labor ally may switch

The Victorian government could lose the support of the country independent who helped Labor form minority government 11 years ago

The Victorian government could lose the support of the country independent who helped Labor form minority government 11 years ago

 Gippsland East MP Craig Ingram says he could switch his support to the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament.

Mr Ingram -- who is himself in a tough fight to hang on to his seat in the face of a Nationals onslaught -- says the only certainty is he will not be allying himself with any party that sides with the Greens.

Mr Ingram's gripes with the Greens centre on their plans to end logging in national parks and dramatically increase the amount of coastline covered by marine national parks.

Speaking to The Weekend Australian on election eve, Mr Ingram stressed he had to win his seat before thinking about what might happen on Saturday.

But it "would be much easier" for him to form government with the Coalition. "I would be very uncomfortable with going into government with Labor if there was a formal arrangement with the Greens," he said.

"I am uncomfortable with some of the policies of the Greens and worry about whether they would dictate to a minority government."

Mr Ingram added: "I think the government will lose seats."

As a former National Party member, Mr Ingram was one of three independent MPs from regional electorates -- and the only one still in the parliament -- who helped turn Victorian politics on its head in 1999 by supporting a minority Labor government.