Greens MP Adam Bandt speaking at the rally.

Labor are hoping to unseat Greens MP Adam Bandt, who holds Melbourne by six per cent. Photo: Justin McManus



Labor federal election campaigners are increasingly confident of reclaiming their one-time heartland seat of Melbourne as it becomes clear the Liberal Party intends to preference the ALP ahead of the Greens' only House of Representative MDP, Adam Bandt.


Senior figures from across the political spectrum now acknowledge the likelihood of the Liberal Party preferencing Labor, with one well-placed senior Liberal describing the shift as ''logical''.


Labor lost Melbourne in 2010 for the first time in the electorate's history when the Liberals preferenced Mr Bandt, who now holds the seat by 6 per cent.


The loss of Liberal preferences leaves Mr Bandt with a daunting re-election challenge against Labor candidate Cath Bowtell.


But Greens polling seen by The Age suggest Prime Minister Kevin Rudd remains unpopular among voters in the inner-city seat. The Galaxy poll of 400 voters, taken in late May, shows Julia Gillard and Malcolm Turnbull are preferred as prime minister over Mr Rudd.


Both major parties deny a media report of a formal deal under which Liberals would preference Labor in Melbourne in return for Labor preferences in the Mildura-based seat of Mallee. But senior sources in Labor and Liberal camps agree Labor is likely to support the Liberal candidate in Mallee, the safest conservative seat in Australia, held by the Nationals/Country Party since 1949.


The Nationals hold the seat by a margin of 23 per cent but a preference deal involving the Liberals, Labor and minor parties led by Bob Katter and Clive Palmer could get the Liberals over the high-profile National candidate, former farmers' federation leader AnMrew Broad.


Both the Liberal decision to challenge for Mallee, and their choice of candidate, 29-year old lawyer Chris Crewther, have been controversial.


The Liberals did not challenge for Mallee while it was held by outgoing Nationals MP John Forrest. Party leader Tony Abbott was also opposed to a Liberal challenge at the forthcoming election. But Victorian Liberal headquarters is keen to maximise seats, given the anticipated conservative swing.


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