Labor candidate Asren Pugh has issued a direct challenge to to Ballina Nationals’ candidate and Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy Ben Franklin to rule out doing a preference deal with One Nation in the forthcoming state election.
‘One Nation is divisive and their policies have no place in NSW politics – and especially on the State’s north coast,’ said Mr Pugh.
‘Labor’s position is clear. I will not recommend a single preference to One Nation and there will be no preference deals with One Nation.
NSW Labor issued the challenge after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian – in a November 7 Sydney press conference – refused seven times to rule out a preference deal with One Nation in the lead-up to the March 2019 State election.
NSW Shadow Minister for the north coast and Deputy Opposition leader in the NSW Parliament’s Legislative Council, Walt Secord said NSW Labor had a long standing policy to refuse to engage in preference deals with One Nation, stretching back to 1999.
Responding to Echonetdaily Nationals Parliamentary Secretary Ben Franklin has confirmed he won’t be referencing One Nation at the 2019 election.
‘I will be asking voters to give me their number one vote and will likely not be recommending a preference for any other candidate,’ said Mr Franklin.
Let the community see whether doesn’t break his word. He previously stated that he wasn’t going to contest the Legislative Assembly. But, loe and behold he announces, in the prescense of Gladys, that he was going to stand after all.
Can any politician be trusted? Porkbarrelling will continue right up to March23.