"I just make the point that in the end, preference decisions are decisions for the party organisation," he said.
The Australian newspaper reports the coalition had broken with convention, preferencing One Nation and Citizens Electoral Council candidates ahead of Labor in the two electorates.
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In Hunter, The Nationals candidate is preferencing the One Nation candidate ahead of sitting former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
And the Liberal Party has preferenced the Citizens Electoral Council candidate in Charlton, ahead of sitting Labor minister Greg Combet.
Meanwhile, the Australian Greens was preferencing One Nation ahead of the Liberal Party in the NSW electorate of Chifley, The Australian said.
