Fed: Coalition split on One Nation preferences

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2001
Fed: Coalition split on One Nation preferences

The Coalition remains split on the issue of One Nation preferences in the upcoming
federal election after four election losses.

Northern Territory Chief Minister DENIS BURKE apologised yesterday for locking his
party into allocating preference to One Nation ahead of Labor which he says hurt the Country
Liberal Party vote in the weekend poll.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD agrees it was a mistake and has upped the pressure on his
party's West Australian branch not to direct preferences to One Nation.

National Party Senate leader RON BOSWELL says four election losses show what happens
when the Coalition does preference deals with One Nation.

He says the NT election is the fourth one lost by giving preferences to One Nation,
after the West Australian and last two Queensland polls.

And Liberal MPs have backed Mr HOWARD, saying One Nation will be placed last on the
party's how-to-vote cards.

But National Party whip PAUL NEVILLE says each of the Nationals' electorate councils
will decide on preferences separately.

AAP RTV eg/daw/jh/rt

KEYWORD: POLLNT NATION MPS (CANBERRA)

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