Negotiating Labor preference deals live on radio

With the polls showing a swing of 6-10% to Labor in Victoria, one curious aspect of this election is the lack of any discussion about the prospect of Peter Costello losing his seat of Higgins, given his margin is only 8.8%.

I'm certainly hoping that happens and have decided to distribute 40,000 how-to-vote cards next Saturday recommending voters put Labor 6th and Costello 7th with only Family First behind them.

This decision was confirmed after an on-air preference negotiation through community radio station RRR with Labor factional strongman Stephen Conroy at 1am on Sunday, November 18, when Headley Gritter was hosting The Party Show's election special.

Conroy publicly undertook that Crikey would be allowed into future Federal budget lock-ups and with Peter Costello refusing to make such a commitment, the preference allocation was sealed. Have a listen to the audio exchange here.