I'm really tired of the misleading conversations, especially between journalists and politicians, that would lead anyone to believe political parties decide where your preferences (in the lower house) are distributed.
This is not true and utterly bullshit. These "preferences" they're discussing are the little pieces of paper they try to stick in your hand as you walk into the polling place.
Only you decide where your preferences go as you list them by numbering in sequence all lower house candidates.
I just wish these fuckwits would make this clear especially for new voters.