Independent candidate Chrysten Abraham has challenged the Greens’ Frankston preferences. She claims the party ranked her below Labor while placing two other independents above the incumbent.
Abraham made the comments on News24 with Paul Murray on 11 November. She questioned whether the alleged order matched the Greens’ diversity and inclusion commitments.
She said she had sought a position above Labor on the party’s how-to-vote card.
“And they have chosen to put the other two independents above Labor, but me under Labor.”
Henry Kelsall and Nicola Barry are the other independents in the Frankston candidate field. Labor MP Paul Edbrooke is seeking re-election.
Abraham argued the decision reflected her potential to challenge for the seat.
“Again, because I’m actually a threat in the Frankston electorate.”
Abraham questions Greens’ diversity commitments
Abraham questioned how the Greens’ Frankston preferences aligned with their support for women and people of colour.
“So the Greens always talk about diversity and inclusion and women and people of colour and all that kind of stuff. So for the Greens, I’m the trifecta, right?”
This was Abraham’s assessment of the Greens’ motives.
Murray responded by emphasising voters’ ability to choose their own preferences.
“Well, that’s why you take the how to votes and you make your choices, right? That’s the way that it works.”
Labor and Legalise Cannabis deal claim
Abraham also claimed Labor had made a deal with Legalise Cannabis Victoria. She pointed to its position on Labor’s how-to-vote card.
Labor’s registered card ranks Jeff Knipe, the Legalise Cannabis candidate, second in Frankston. It also ranks Legalise Cannabis second in the South-Eastern Metropolitan upper-house region.
However, Legalise Cannabis’ registered card leaves later preferences to voters in both contests. These cards show Labor’s rankings but do not establish a negotiated agreement.
Greens’ Frankston preferences unconfirmed
The Victorian Electoral Commission’s Frankston how-to-vote list did not include a Greens card when checked on 13 November. STPL News could not independently confirm Abraham’s account from that list.
Abraham stood for the Liberal Democrats, now known as the Libertarian Party, in Frankston in 2022. She received 1,420 first-preference votes, or 3.56 per cent.
She is now standing as an independent, while Katie Goulas is the Greens candidate.
How-to-vote cards recommend an order, but voters choose their own preferences. For the lower house, voters must number every box.
