Labor and Greens the same: Joyce

A preference deal between Labor and the Greens was proof the two parties are locked
into an informal coalition, Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says.
The Greens on Monday confirmed they would preference Labor ahead of the coalition in
an unspecified number of seats at the August 21 poll.
In return Labor have agreed to preference the Greens ahead of all other parties.
Senator Joyce, who toured north Queensland on Monday, said the decision was evidence
the two parties were effectively one.
"It's a statement of the reality that the Labor Party and the Greens are in an
informal coalition," he told AAP.
"The Greens, for all intents and purposes, where it counts, are an extension of the
Labor Party."
He said the arrangement allowed Labor to court middle of the road and centre right
voters on issues like asylum seekers, "quarantining" support on the Left through the
Greens.
Senator Joyce said if rising support for the Greens, as high as 13 per cent
according to some polls, translated to additional Senate seats, Australian politics
could face a major shift.
"The Greens will have the right to put their stamp on every piece of legislation
which goes through our parliament," Senator Joyce said.
"That would be, for me, a very dangerous place for us to live because you would have
... the nuttiest ETS that's ever been dreamt up."
He said the Greens would also seek to legislate to allow gay marriage.