Mack declares hand after facing attacks from Liberals, and says support is on condition of a Murray-Darling royal commission

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Independent Kevin Mack, who wants to snare the safe Liberal seat of Farrer at Saturday’s election, has declared he would back the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament.

But Mack, who a fortnight ago said he was unsure which major party he would support, said he had since faced a barrage of attacks from the Liberals saying he was supporting the Greens and Labor and was now declaring his hand.

Describing himself as a “conservative right” candidate, Mack said he would support the Coalition on the condition it would back a royal commission into water buybacks and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

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“The Liberal party has deliberately gone out to try to undermine the independent movement as best as it can … saying a vote for Kevin Mack is a vote for Labor and the Greens,” he said.

“I am a conservative right [candidate], I would have to work towards a Coalition vote to begin with, but they would have to offer more than what they are currently offering Farrer.

“My issues are water, water, water.”

Play Video 7:48 Farrer's fury: in rural NSW, voters' anger over water is at boiling point – video

Mack is one of three independents vying to win traditionally Liberal seats who have said they would back the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament, along with Zali Steggall in Warringah and Rebekha Sharkie in Mayo.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has confirmed he would support Labor, but would be demanding more action on climate change and the environment if his support was needed for the opposition to secure a majority.

Other independents are hedging their bets.

Rob Oakeshott, who is set to win the seat of Cowper on New South Wales’s mid-north coast, has said he would talk to both leaders in the event of a hung parliament, but on Tuesday criticised Scott Morrison for saying he “would not be drawn” on whether he’d even pick up the phone to talk to any independent.

“If he can’t do that, its a moot point. He’s the one who needs to form a majority, no one else.”

Independent Helen Haines in Indi has also said she would speak to both sides if she successfully took over the seat from Cathy McGowan, declaring the seat “open for business”.

Andrew Wilkie, the independent MP for Denison, which has been renamed Clark, said he would not do any deals with either major party to form government.

“I will decide every issue on its merits, including questions of confidence and supply.”

'No one can assume': who will independents back if there is a hung parliament? Read more

On Tuesday morning, Scott Morrison ramped up the pressure on independents to declare their hand, saying it was “entirely reasonable” for voters to know which major party they would prefer.

“As we know, this is going to be a very close election,” Morrison said.

“It’s like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get with these guys.

“Kerryn Phelps over in Wentworth was pretending to be a Liberal, she’s voted with Labor 75% of the time.

“People present themselves as being middle of the road, but when they get in there, that’s what they do.”