Government in Chaos as Nationals Split, Loses Majority

^{BY JAMES JAMESONSON}

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The government is in chaos tonight after a bitter public feud between the Prime Minister u/porriidge and the Deputy Prime Minister u/riley8583, which resulted in the National Party withdrawing from the governing coalition and the government losing its majority in the House of Representatives.

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The current Prime Minister

The split was primarily fueled by the Prime Minister's endorsement of the Centre Alliance candidate in the Pearce by-election, over the National Party's candidate. The seat was ultimately won by the left-wing SDP, with 52% of the two-party preferred vote.

The Centre Alliance is a junior coalition partner in the government, holding one seat in the House and one seat in the Senate (which belongs to u/ellielia, who was appointed to the seat as a Liberal vacancy). The party was only founded recently, as a break-away of the Liberal Party. The Nationals possess two seats in the House and hold the Deputy Prime Ministership. They have been a part of the government since it was sworn into office.

The now-former Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Party, u/riley8583, described the Prime Minister as "rotten to the core" and said "I wish I had seen it in him sooner". He also stated that he would be supporting the vote of no confidence moved by the SDP leader, u/Youmaton, in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister claims that the National Party's departure from the government originated from his refusal to give the National candidate for Pearce, u/AussieConservative, a vacant Senate position. Speaking to Australia Tonight, the Prime Minister refused to call an election, but also said that he was "not concerned" about the possibility of an election being called if the VoNC is successful, as his government was "still leading in the polls".

The most recent opinion polls showed the Liberals leading 58% on a two-party preferred figure, but this does not take into account the departure of the Nationals from the government. On a party basis, the Liberals are only marginally ahead of the Opposition United Democratic Party, 24% to 23% respectively.

The news becomes even worse for the Prime Minister on preferred prime minister polling. The polls suggest that even the Nationals leader is more popular than the Prime Minister. On an individual basis, Opposition Leader u/dyljam leads the polls on 20.1%, the Nationals leader on 15.4%, and the Prime Minister on 14.9%.

On a two-candidate preferred basis, the Opposition leader is far ahead of the Prime Minister, polling 41.3% to 32.0% respectively.

In a speech in the House on the vote of no confidence, the Opposition Leader stated that he supported the motion "against this shambolic, illegitimate government".

"[The] Prime Minister proved himself to be improper and unfit to hold such a high office", he said. "They bring shame on this House, and they bring shame to the country. People overseas look at this mockery we have. This unscrupulous, haphazard travesty that we have sitting on the treasury benches. They are an absolute disgrace".

The motion will go to a vote later in the week, and on present numbers is expected to succeed.

If the Prime Minister does not call an election beforehand, it is likely that the President would invite the Opposition and crossbench parties to form a government.

However, the Opposition Leader told the National Review "We have no plans to form a government with anyone at this stage."