Trades Hall call for Labor-Greens alliance

Victoria's peak union body is calling on state Labor and the Greens to form a
"progressive alliance" and ward off a conservative government gaining power on
November 27.
The Victorian Trades Hall Council voted on Friday to urge Labor and the Greens to
direct preferences to each other despite policy differences.
Secretary Brian Boyd said Trades Hall had been asked to intervene and highlight the
union movement's fears a coalition government might sweep to power by default.
"If they don't sort out their arrangements between the two parties anything could
happen in terms of the preferences in given seats and the coalition could win by
default because of the squabble," he told AAP on Friday.
After a period of tension in which some unions, including the Electrical Trade Union
and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, directed money to the
Greens before this year's federal poll, this month major unions pledged money to
return their support to the Labor government.
But Mr Boyd says Trades Hall had not canvassed any withdrawal of financial support
to Labor should the parties ignore each other.
"Trades Hall does not comment on what individuals do with their support for whatever
political party," Mr Boyd said.
"No one put that on the table this morning.
"The progressive political parties having a spat about preference deals is not as
important as making sure the Liberal Party and National Party do not take power in
Spring Street."
ALP state secretary Nick Reece said Labor agreed that the Greens and the Liberal
Party should not do a preference deal.
"Labor urges the Greens to reconsider their position and support the election of a
progressive government in Victoria."
Greens candidate for Melbourne Brian Walters said the party would pursue its
progressive agenda.
"We would be very happy to work with the Labor Party provided it was on a basis in
which they pursued a progressive agenda also."
Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said history showed a clear trend towards a
Labor-Greens alliance.
"The `99 election, the 2002 election, the 2006 election, Tasmania, recent federal
election, the Greens and Labor have worked hand in glove," he told reporters.
"We don't expect that to change and we are seeking election in our own right as the
coalition."
The campaign trail on Friday also saw the coalition announce a $100 million natural
gas extension to towns in regional Victoria while Premier John Brumby announced
plans to initiate "Tasmanian-style" peace talks between the timber industry, unions
and environmentalists without government intervention.
He was also joined by Australia's Test cricket great Shane Warne to unveil a $140.2
million re-election plan to boost grassroots sport and develop a new state cricket
and community centre at the heritage-listed Junction Oval.