Back to the original point of this thread, I have always been a democrats supporter so I was understandably shocked when their pref deals came out - so much for socially responsible, they have actually become concerned with votes! jk
So, yes, I think the Democrats preferencing will lose a lot of votes... I still support the democrats but not their prefs. I also favour the Greens who have moderated quite substantially in recent years without losing their good social responsibility report card. So I decided I was going to vote below the line and advised my parents (Libs) to do the same after seeing their prefs and hearing my parents concerns about FF etc.
Then I discovered the Greens Senate preferences exactly what I would vote below the line anyway so now I am voting above the line for the Greens.
Full list of NSW preferences across all parties
http://www.aec.gov.au/election2004/candidates/pdf/gvt/2004NSWGVT.pdf
Greens (only including parties likely to get elected, there are 78 candidates, 28 groups and four ungrouped after all!)
1. Greens
2. Democrats
3. Labor Party
4. Liberals/Nationals
5. Family First
6. Christian Democrats (Rev Fred Nile)
Other major parties preference deals, own exclamations:
Democrats
1. Democrats
2. Family First (!)
3. Liberals for Forests
4. Christian Democrats (Rev Fred Nile) (!)
5. Greens
6. 50% Liberals/Nationals, 50% Labor Party
Labor Party
1. Labor Party
2. Liberals for Forests
3. 33% Christian Democrats (Rev Fred Nile), 66% Greens (!)
4. Democrats
5. Family First (!)
6. Liberals/Nationals
Liberal Party
1. Liberals/Nationals
2. Christian Democrats (!)
3. Family First (!)
4. Liberals for Forests
5. Democrats
6. Greens
7. Labor Party