Labor to back Greens preference motion

NSW Labor has backed away from a plan to preference the Greens last at the next state election – but is still likely to rubber stamp a move to distance itself from the party.

Delegates at Labor’s annual state party conference, which kicks off in Sydney on Saturday morning, will be asked to vote on a motion denying the Greens friendly treatment during future preference negotiations.

It’s a significant climb down from plans, reported earlier this week, which would have seen the Greens automatically preferenced last by NSW Labor.

The revised motion, obtained by Fairfax newspapers on Friday, says the Greens refused to preference Labor ahead of some “right wing minor parties” during the 2011 state election.

The motion adds: “In view of these circumstances, Conference resolves that NSW Labor should not provide the Greens Party with automatic preferential treatment in any future preference negotiations.”

It comes against a backdrop of a series of Labor attacks on the Greens this week in a bid to put distance between the parties.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon hit back at accusations her party preferenced right wing candidates, including former One Nation politician Pauline Hanson.

“Labor has carefully worded the motion to leave voters and the media with the false impression that the Greens preferenced Pauline Hanson and an array of right wing parties ahead of Labor in the last state election. This is just not true,” she said.

NSW Labor state secretary Sam Dastyari is set to move the revised motion during an administrative committee and rules debate at 9am (AEST).

Opposition Leader John Robertson will address the conference from 11am (AEST).

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