Greens say ‘no thanks’ to Nats offer of a deal

A BYRON Bay Greens candidate has revealed the LNP asked the Greens to switch preferences in Richmond in a bid to claw back the Northern NSW seat from Labor at the Federal election.

Greens candidate and acting mayor of Byron Shire Council Michael Lyon said he had been approached by third-time Nationals candidate Matthew Fraser.

Mr Lyon said his opponent asked the Greens in Richmond to direct preferences to the Nationals, rather than Labor.

The bold move did not pay off.

“When the Nationals candidate calls me wanting to swap preferences it makes you wonder what planet he’s living on,” Mr Lyon said.

“I was very diplomatic at the time. I said I would take it to our committee. We have processes, it’s not up to me.

“I took it to the campaign committee and they shared my view that it’s not going to happen.”

He said the move signalled the major parties were taking the Greens very seriously in Richmond.

Mr Fraser said “senior party officials of the Greens have been in discussions with me and advised me to contact the Greens Federal candidate direct”.

“It was made clear to me that the Greens are livid about the dirty and dishonest tactics Labor dished out to them at the recent state election and the disappointment with lazy Labor Federal Member Justine Elliot ...,” he said.

Mr Lyon said his party’s policies were influencing Labor across the country.

He said Labor has been “moving to the left” and “not necessarily because they want to” but because “they know our policies are gaining traction”.

Labor MP Justine Elliot retained the marginal seat of Richmond at the 2016 election on the back of Greens preferences.

Mrs Elliot said Mr Fraser “doesn’t deserve the votes or indeed the preferences from any locals” and repeated her calls for Mr Fraser to stand down as a candidate.

In 2016, the Greens drew 20.4 per cent of the primary vote, compared to 37.6 per cent for the Nationals and 31 per cent for Labor.

That result marked a 5.1 per cent swing towards the Greens.

Mrs Elliot ousted Larry Anthony when she was first elected in 2004.

Nationals candidate Matthew Fraser (above) approached Greens candidate Michael Lyon (top right) about a preference deal as part of the LNP’s bid to unseat the ALP’s Justine Elliot in Richmond.