Rudd questions Abbott's minority stance

Kevin Rudd says if Tony Abbott refuses to negotiate with Greens and the independents to form government, he shouldn't preference them over Labor.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of "double standards" by saying he won't make deals with minor parties or independents if there was another hung parliament.

Mr Abbott on Monday ruled out the prospect of negotiation with minor parties or independents to form a minority coalition government.

But Mr Rudd said the coalition was preferencing the Australian Greens ahead of Labor in seats like Grayndler in inner-Sydney, and in the Greens-held seat of Melbourne.

"I assume the logic which flows from that is Mr Abbott will therefore be putting all independents last in his how-to-vote around the country," he said.

"If they are fair dinkum about this - that is `We don't like independents, we don't like Greens' - why are they preferencing them all over country?"

"A bit of double-standards here."

Mr Rudd was asked if he would be prepared to negotiate with minor parties and independents in the event of a hung parliament.

"As for us, we're on about securing a majority government for the Australian Labor Party, because that is in the best interests of the country," he said.

With recent polls showing the major parties are almost neck-and-neck, another hung parliament could be a possibility after the September 7 poll.


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Source: AAP


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