Victorian election sees Labor and Greens clash over preference allocations

Labor's decision to run an open ticket in a key inner‑city seat has prompted the Greens to withhold preferences in 15 Victorian electorates, The Guardian reported.

The Greens said they will not direct preferences to Labor after what they described as an “unforgivable” decision earlier in the week.

Labor replied by accusing the Greens of striking a “dodgy deal” that could help the Liberals and One Nation, and the Greens returned the charge.

Both parties warned that the dispute puts several marginal seats at risk ahead of the 28 November poll, as preference flows can determine the final outcome in Australia's preferential voting system.

The standoff underscores how intra‑coalition tension may shape the composition of the state parliament.

Why it matters

The disagreement could affect the distribution of seats and influence which parties form government in Victoria.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

13 Nov 2026, 11:46 IST

Key names

Greens, Labor, Victorian, Liberals

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianVictoria election 2026: Labor and Greens trade accusations of ‘dodgy deals’ as preference fight puts key seats at risk 13 Nov, 11:46

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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