Liberal Leader Porriidge Is Sworn in as Prime Minister, Goes Quiet Ahead of Parliament Opening

^{BY JAMES JAMESONSON}

LIBERAL Leader u/porriidge was appointed Prime Minister earlier in the week, but has not made any announcement on his new government, or the formation of a cabinet, in the lead up to the opening of the new parliament on Friday.

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The Prime Minister is yet to make any announcement on his government or cabinet.

It is believed that the Liberal and National parties will continue in their coalition arrangement, however the new Prime Minister has been forced to negotiate supply and confidence from two of the three crossbenchers in order to form government. It is unknown at this stage who the crossbenchers are who have sided with the new government, or what the government has promised them in return.

Similarly, the Prime Minister has also remained tight-lipped on his government's agenda as well as the make up of his cabinet. The Liberal-National coalition's frontbench has changed significantly since the Porriidge shadow ministry was announced last term, losing the talent of Senator u/tobycool2001_1, Member for Moncrieff u/PineappleCrusher_, and also losing Senator u/AussieConservative.

Speaking to the National Review, United Democrats leader u/dyljam, who is tipped to become the next Leader of the Opposition, blasted the absence of the Prime Minister and the complete lack of announcements regarding a policy vision or a cabinet.

"We've seen absolutely nothing of the new Prime Minister since he was appointed early this week. No vision for his government's agenda, no formation of a cabinet, and no details about what he has horse-traded for the support of the crossbench. Where is he?"

Social Democratic Party leader u/Youmaton was somewhat more innocuous in their assessment of the situation:

"It is concerning to see the near disappearance of the Prime Minister as we await the opening of parliament tomorrow, however I am eagerly awaiting any kind of announcement from his government regarding his cabinet or his agenda for this term."

The Liberal leader kept an unusually low profile throughout the election campaign, and referred only to slogans as opposed to making policy proposals. The new government may borrow from earlier proposals it made in opposition, such as reinstating mandatory offshore detention for asylum seekers.

When asked whether a UDP opposition would support such a policy, u/dyljam said "it was a Democrat government which abolished the cruel and inhumane practice. We will not support re-instituting it".