Voter revolt' might win Green seat

October 23, 2004

A BELOW-THE-LINE voting rebellion by Labor and Australian Democrats voters in Tasmania might still get Greens candidate Christine Milne into the Senate, party leader Bob Brown said today.

Ms Milne is in a tight battle with Family First's Jacquie Petrusma for the final Tasmanian Senate seat from the October 9 election.

Senator Brown said Ms Milne's primary vote grew from 12.6 per cent earlier in the week to 13.3 per cent today, with only a handful of votes left to count. A quota is 14.3 per cent.

"What will help Christine to reach towards a quota is a below-the-line rebellion by Labor and Democrat voters," he said in a statement.

"Although these parties directed preferences to Family First ahead of the Greens, up to 70 per cent of below-the-line voters for both parties put Christine ahead of Family First.

"It is this rebellion together with her improved primary count which has put Christine in a better position."

Senator Brown said the outcome would probably be known on Tuesday when the Australian Electoral Commission computer distributed the preferences and came up with a final result.

He said Greens candidate Drew Hutton remained in a race with the Nationals' Barnaby Joyce for the final Senate spot in Queensland.

"If he were to win, it would deprive Prime Minister John Howard of an absolute Senate majority for the coming three year parliamentary term."

Senator Brown said the Greens' Rachel Siewert was set to win a seat in Western Australia.