Greens-Labor deal a 'Freddy Krueger nightmare': Nationals senator

A Labor-Greens coalition government would be a "Freddy Krueger" nightmare for north Queensland, a Nationals frontbencher warns.

Invoking the terrifying character from the 1980s horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street who kills his victims while they sleep, Matt Canavan said only the Turnbull government could deliver development for the region.

There'd be no new dams, or development at all if Greens deputy leader Larissa Waters became environment minister, Senator Canavan said.

"It'd be our Freddy Krueger outcome because it will be nightmare on North Queensland street for us," he told reporters in Townsville on Wednesday.

Local MP Ewen Jones, who's facing a strong challenge from Labor in the marginal seat of Herbert, said he won't be making preference deals with anyone.

In any case, the Greens will get about 16 votes in Townsville he reckons.

"They want to lock us out of the reef, they want to make sure there's no dams. They want to make sure no one does anything."

Labor has ruled out any deal with the Greens but Attorney-General George Brandis said he's heard that before.

The last thing voters wanted was to go back to the chaos of a Labor/Greens minority government, he said.

"We've seen the Labor party rule out doing deals with the Greens before, only to go into coalition with them after an election."