In NSW there are 79 candidates for the 6 Senate seats. Realistically the first 4 seats will go to the Coalition (2) and Labor (2) and similarly in other states.

With all due respect to the other candidates and parties involved, the last 2 seats will most likely be a three way contest between Labor, the Coalition and the Greens.

The Australian Conservation Foundation review of the environment policies
of these 3 parties gave them the following ratings:

• Greens 94%
• Labor 56%
• Coalition 21%

For the Senate, you can vote either 'above the line' by simply placing a "1" in a box on the ballot paper - as 98% of NSW voters did in the 2004 Federal Election. If you vote below the line, you will need to number every box.

However, it is easy to make a mistake when voting below the line, thus making your vote informal. Of the total votes cast in the last election over 3% were informal.

If you choose to vote above the line for a minor party, it is therefore important to know where its preferences will flow.

In Victoria in the 2004 Federal Election, the Family First senate candidate, Steve Fielding, received less than 2% of the primary vote, but was elected on preferences from several even smaller parties.

We have analysed the preferences of the NSW senate candidates contained in their Group Voting Tickets. These tickets have been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission.

Our summary shows -

• each party's first three preferences - this gives an indication of their political leaning.
• where each party has placed the Coalition, Labor and The Greens in its preferences.

Regards from the Citizens Climate Campaign Committee