Labor MP Josh Burns will run an open ticket in his inner south-eastern Melbourne seat of Macnamara, departing from any state and national preferencing deals.
The decision means Mr Burns’ how-to-vote card will not encourage voters to preference any other party, including the Greens.
Sky News understands Mr Burns’ decision is underpinned by a moral objection to the Greens’ stance on the war in Gaza.
There is a large Jewish population in Mr Burns’ Macnamara electorate, which has been held by Labor since 2019.
Mr Burns will now run an open ticket, allowing Labor voters to decide unaided not to preference the Greens.
Key Labor figures asked party secretary Paul Erickson to run the open ticket, according to The Age.
The critical decision was made not long after the ballot was drawn on Friday, with Mr Burns securing the top spot.
Sonya Semmens, the candidate from the Greens, was present for the draw and came in at third position, Liberal candidate Benson Saulo drawing fourth.
While six candidates are gunning to secure the seat, a tight three-way race between Labor, the Greens, and the Liberal Party is underway.
However, Mr Burns’ decision to steer away from directing voters to preference the Greens could work in the Liberal Party’s favour, given voting for the Greens second can help keep ALP candidates in the running.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has condemned Mr Burns’ decision, accusing the Labor Party of making a “dirty deal” with their Liberal Party rivals.
“This now risks the Liberals winning the seat, and bringing Dutton one step closer to the Lodge,” Mr Bandt said in a statement.
“Labor voters will be furious they are helping Dutton with preferences.
“Albanese has done what Dutton wants, a dirty preference deal to try and keep the Greens from winning more seats at the election. It won’t work though, because voters aren’t stupid.”
Mr Burns has stopped short of directing voters to mark the Greens last, angering the Australian Jewish Association, which has denounced the party’s stance on Israel.
“AJA is very disappointed that Labor’s Josh Burns won’t put the Greens last in the seat of Macnamara,” the association said in a statement.
“The Greens are the only significant antisemitic political party in Australia.
“They have spent the past 18 months vilifying Jews and whipping up antisemitism. How can Burns face the Jewish community after spitting in its face like this?”
