Labor has signed a shameful preference deal with the Australian Greens that betrays decent workers, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.
The ALP National Executive confirmed on Saturday that state divisions across the nation have been ordered to preference the Greens second on senate tickets, except in Queensland where the Katter Party will be favoured.
"This is a betrayal of the decent working people of our country," Mr Abbott said of the deal.
He said the Greens have worked to shut down multiple industries, meaning job losses in the forestry, fishing, coal and live export sectors.
"I think there would be lots of decent Labor people right around our country who would be shaking their heads in shame and embarrassment at yet another squalid deal with a party that is not interested in jobs for Australian workers," Mr Abbott said on Saturday.
The opposition leader slammed the deal despite long-standing speculation such an arrangement would surface.
"Labor's clear aim with preference arrangements has been to deliver the best chance of winning majority government in our own right," ALP National Secretary George Wright said in a statement.
The agreement bolsters the Greens' chances of retaining seats in the senate that would otherwise have been at risk.
Speaking at a mine site in Western Australia's Pilbara region, the operators of which employ some 10,000 people, Mr Abbott asked if the Greens would ever allow such a project to go ahead.
"Shame on you Mr Rudd for doing this deal and I challenge again decent Labor people to reclaim their party from those who have sold its soul to the Greens."
