Labor is recommending its voters put Legalise Cannabis Queensland (LCQ) second in all but one of the seats that the minor party is running in this state election.
The ALP has put LCQ ahead of the Greens in 28 of the 29 seats LCQ is contesting, including the electorates of Premier Steven Miles, Police Minister Mark Ryan and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, the party’s how-to-vote cards show.
The only exception is Ninderry on the Sunshine Coast, where Labor is preferencing the Greens candidate.
Preferential voting — where voters must number every ballot paper box in order of preference — is compulsory in Queensland state elections.
Legalise Cannabis Party national secretary Craig Ellis said he was “pleased that Labor has preferenced us before the Greens and other minor parties” and his party would preference Labor before the LNP.
Loading…
Asked about Labor preferencing LCQ, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman told the ABC her party recommended preferencing LCQ and the Greens because they were pro-choice.
Labor preferences the Greens in 59 electorates, and Independents in five seats.
The party also preferences Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) in Burdekin in North Queensland, which has pledged to try to repeal abortion laws.
Asked if the Labor Party shared the LCQ’s prerogative to decriminalise cannabis for personal use, Ms Fentiman said no, and that the ALP position was “really clear”.
“What we have done is make sure there is more diversion in the system. So if someone is apprehended because they have a small quantity of illegal substances on them, they are then diverted to a health provider … after a number of diversions they will then eventually go to the criminal justice system.”
The ALP has put LCQ ahead of the Greens in 28 of the 29 seats LCQ is contesting, including the electorate of Labor leader Steven Miles. (ABC News: Jessica Black)
Griffith University political commentator Paul Williams said preferencing LCQ showed “the gloves are off” between Labor and the Greens, particularly in capital cities where the minority party poses an “existential threat” to the ALP.
“In recent years we’ve seen the Greens-Labor relationship turn from friendly or even unfriendly rivalry into bitter hatred,” Dr Williams said.
“It wasn’t that long ago Tasmania was the jewel in the Greens crown, then it was Victoria — now it’s Queensland.”
Queensland precedent for Legalise Cannabis
It’s “particularly strategic” in seats with a three-way contest between the ALP, LNP and Greens where Labor gets no benefit from Greens preferences, he said.
There, even the small percentage of the votes LCQ picks up could be enough to give Labor a boost.
“The LCQ will attract maybe up to 5 per cent in some seats, in the seats where it’s very close Labor may in fact benefit from those few hundred or so Legalise Cannabis preferences.”
It was also a “significant” development for LCQ, which almost unseated Pauline Hanson in the 2020 Senate race after securing nearly 5 per cent of the vote, he said.
“In Queensland, this is the most prestige or esteem it has received from a major party,” Dr Williams said.
“It’s certainly a precedent in Queensland.”
The ABC has asked Labor headquarters for comment.
When is the 2024 Queensland election?
Saturday, October 26.
Where can I vote?
Visit the Queensland Electoral Commission’s online portal.
Type your address into the search bar, tap the green “search” button and then scroll down to see a list of polling booths near you.
Who are the candidates in my electorate?
The Queensland Electoral Commission’s online portal can tell you.
Once you select your electorate from the dropdown menu, a list of candidates in your area will appear.
What electorate am I in?
The Queensland Electoral Commission has an online portal that will help you find out which state electorate you’re in.
Type in your address in the search bar and tap the maroon “search” button.
