Chapter 23 : The Cabinet

Australian State House, June 23, 1900

This was the third day since Arthur returned from Whakaari Island, and it was the scheduled day for the final elections of the government cabinet.

This was a pivotal day for Australia. The country was about to form its first formal government cabinet, and the reform that would transform the colony into a duchy was steadily progressing toward success. The idea of turning Australia into a duchy under the British crown had been a subject of intense debate, but Arthur, with his charisma and vision, had managed to convince the majority of parliamentarians that this was the best option to ensure the country's stability and growth.

For Arthur, this was also a crucial day. Once the official members of the cabinet were determined, they could begin building a structured government, formulating plans, and taking decisive steps for Australia's future development. He knew that the success of this reform largely depended on the quality and integrity of the leaders who would occupy the key positions in the cabinet.

By eight in the morning, most members of parliament were already at the doors of the government building, patiently waiting for them to open. The air was thick with anticipation and nervousness. For the fortunate parliamentarians selected as candidates, this was undoubtedly a day full of expectations. If they managed to maintain their good luck and succeed in the elections, they would have the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of Australian politics in one step. Even those deputies who had lost in the first round of voting were visibly anxious. Although they couldn't run this time, they could boast in the future that this government cabinet had been elected with their support.

"Click!" A sharp sound from the wooden door of the government building announced the start of the day. This building, which had witnessed history for over a hundred years, was about to begin its workday. This time, there were no guards to guide the way, but the congressmen already knew the route, silently making their way to the meeting room on the upper floor. Some officials were already working in the government building, but since the cabinet still had no formal candidates, the government's responsibility was limited to maintaining public order and stability, with no immediate development plans.

When all the congressmen had taken their seats, Arthur entered, escorted by several guards, and positioned himself at the center of the room. "I know everyone is eagerly awaiting the official members of the cabinet, and so am I. Now, let us officially begin the election of the cabinet members," Arthur said, looking around and sensing the anticipation and excitement reflected on everyone's faces. "You now have in your hands a list of the cabinet positions. Write down the name of the candidate you consider most suitable for each position. After completing the list, please hand it over to the guards accompanying you," Arthur explained seriously. "I want to remind you that the election of the cabinet is of utmost importance to Australia. I hope you will act according to your convictions and not personal interests," he added, before starting the vote.

To avoid any confusion, Arthur decided to oversee the process closely rather than allowing the parliament members to have private space, as had happened in the first meeting. This made some congressmen who initially thought of exchanging ideas quickly abandon the notion and focus on the list in front of them with serious, and in some cases, bitter expressions. Since Australia was still in its early years as a nation, its political scene was far less chaotic than that of European countries. This also resulted in much purer elections, driven by the personal convictions of the voters rather than external pressures. However, this process posed difficulties for some parliamentarians, who, being ordinary people, often felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of the decision they had to make.

Despite this, most congressmen already knew whom they would vote for before this day, which allowed them to quickly complete their lists. The rule for the first round of voting was clear: one could not write their own name. For the second round, the rule stated that only the names of the candidates could be written, and candidates could not write their own names. This regulation had been implemented to avoid confusion and unwanted alliances among voters.

After thirty minutes, Arthur noticed that everyone had stopped writing and smiled. "Alright, half an hour has passed. I believe everyone has completed their lists. I'll give you a few minutes to verify that your names are correct and hand over the lists to the guards. The counting will take time, but we need to have the candidates finalized by noon." Upon hearing this, some members of Congress who were still undecided began to write hurriedly, concerned only with quickly choosing the candidates they favored most.

A few minutes later, the guards began collecting the voters' lists one by one. The subsequent vote-counting process was relatively straightforward, though somewhat tedious. The guards had to tally the votes for each candidate to determine who would occupy each cabinet position and then announce the winners. Australia had ten established ministries: the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Human Resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture. In total, there were thirty candidates and one hundred ninety-eight voters.

After more than an hour of work, the guards finally counted the results and handed them to Arthur. The list surprised Arthur somewhat. There were many familiar names, but also some completely unknown ones. Some of these names were outside his political knowledge. This meant that the elections had a random element, and it wasn't always the high-ranking officials or well-known political figures who were chosen.

After receiving the list, Arthur didn't keep anyone in suspense and, in a firm voice, announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to announce the results. The winner of the position of Minister of Agriculture in the first Government Cabinet of Australia is Henry Clifton!" Henry Clifton, who had once spoken with Arthur, was a surprise. Arthur had never imagined that this minor municipal government official would defy expectations and secure such an important position in the cabinet.

"The Minister of Industry in the Government Cabinet of Australia is Pier Silvio Berlusconi," Arthur continued calmly. Pier Silvio Berlusconi was the Prime Minister of Western Australia and one of the most influential figures in the country. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief seeing such an established figure take on a key role in national politics.

"The Secretary of Transport will be Conlet Diano." This was a familiar name. Conlet Diano was the first person Arthur had spoken to at the Capitol, and his election to the cabinet surprised no one.

The announcement continued with the remaining ministries, each occupied by figures who, while not always the most well-known, represented a mix of experience and fresh perspectives that Arthur hoped would lead Australia toward a prosperous future.

. . . 

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