Preference deal a joke

MELBOURNE — The ALP have done a preference deal with the "joke" candidate for the Maribyrnong council elections. Former mayor and ALP incumbent Michael Clarke has preferenced Garth Bray, an independent.

Bray did not provide any information to be sent to voters (voting is by post). His statement simply reads: "A vote for Garth is a vote for fun." The Greens and the Socialist Alliance both have sound policies advocating for more council services, better public transport and increased community participation in decision making.

Clarke said he made the deal with Bray because he "was not anti-development". Bray is the general manager of a construction company.

Socialist Alliance candidate for Wattle Ward, Margarita Windisch told Green Left Weekly: "It just reconfirms what many in the local community are already thinking — the ALP doesn't care about ordinary working-class people anymore and is just 'Another Liberal Party', governing for big business."

From GLW issue 775