THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW:
NSW Election Preference Flows

March 24, 1999

The Voters' Guide can be found at:

http://www.peg.apc.org/~greensnsw/pw.htm

NSW Greens policies:
http://www.greens.nsw.org.au


The Greens today released the Voters' Guide to Preferences, which traces
preference flows for each party running for the Upper House in the state
election on Saturday.

"With over eighty parties standing for the Upper House, voters need a 
clear sense of who they are voting for," said Lee Rhiannon, The 
Greens Upper House candidate.  

The Voters' Guide to Preferences lists all the parties in alphabetical
order and traces their preferences using information available from the
State Electoral Commission. Preferences to major, minor and significant
microparties are displayed in an easy-to-read format and it will be freely
available at polling booths on election day.

"Putting together this guide is part of our commitment to ethical and
accountable electoral processes, something that we have been pushing for
this whole election," said Ms Rhiannon.

"By using this guide, people will be able to ensure that their vote 
is ending up exactly where they intend, rather then benefiting a 
candidate who may have social and political views that voters object 
to," she added.  

The Greens compiled the Guide after some microparties running for the 
Upper House were exposed as bogus groups and fronts designed to 
funnel votes to other parties. A recent example is the Animal 
Liberation Party, which is effectively preferencing a party that 
supports shooting animals.  

Ian Cohen MLC said: "This Guide will ensure that legitimate small parties
have a fair chance in the State election. We're actually doing the
Electoral Commission's work for them but this is important because it's in
the public interest.

"Remember you can always vote below the line so that preferences go 
exactly where you want them," said Mr Cohen.  

For more information ring Lee Rhiannon on (02) 9519 0877 / 018 976 707 or
Ian Cohen MLC on (02) 9230 2603 / 019 989 466

The Voters' Guide to Preferences is available in electronic form.
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