Independents and Greens band together to support Kate Jones in battle for Campbell Newman’s seat

Here you go:

INDEPENDENT and Greens candidates in the must-win seat of Ashgrove will band together to put Campbell Newman last on the ballot paper.

Crucial preferences from two independents and the Greens would flow to Labor’s Kate Jones from their how-to-vote cards, and could help her fall across the line.

At the 2012 poll, the Greens scored just over nine per cent of the primary vote but 81 per cent of Greens voters preferences flowed to Ms Jones with just over 19 per cent flowing to Mr Newman.

Election Mr Newman holds Ashgrove with a margin of 5.7 per cent.

The independents and Greens candidates said they hadn’t been approached by the ALP or LNP for their preferences, and made their decisions independently.

Greens candidate Robert Hogg. Pic Darren England. Greens candidate Robert Hogg. Pic Darren England. Greens candidate Robert Hogg is asking voters to place the ALP as their second preference followed by the independents and put the LNP last.

Professional stuntman, former Green and now independent candidate Peter Jeremijenko is doing a preference swap with fellow Independent Connie Cicchini, followed by Greens, ALP and then the LNP.

While Ms Cicchini’s campaign manager Stewart Lette said her preferences would go to Mr Jeremijenko, then Labor, the Greens and the LNP.

Yesterday Ms Jones skipped the launch of Labor’s campaign in Ipswich to remain on the hustings at pre-polling in The Gap.

Mr Hogg said recent polls indicating the gap between Ms Jones and Mr Newman was tightening could make preferences valuable.

Peter Jeremijenko at The Gap Pr Polling booth. Pic Annette Dew Peter Jeremijenko at The Gap Pr Polling booth. Pic Annette Dew “Greens preferences have mattered in the past … we’ll be recommending they put Greens number one and the LNP last and number all squares,” Mr Hogg said.

ALP voters will be instructed to put the Greens second followed by independents and the LNP last.

Ms Jones is continuing to opt for a grassroots campaign, focusing on reaching individuals in the electorate and not harassing residents who were under siege by the election madness three years ago.

“They got overwhelmed. You couldn’t go to the grocery shop and get a bottle of milk without having a camera in your face so I’m just trying to respect people,” she said.

She spent yesterday and Monday at the pre-polling booths after weekend doorknocking. “I’ve been at pre-poll just to see how many people were coming and giving people the opportunity to see me before they cast their vote.”

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