"Our Cabinet Government is elected by the Lower House, reviewed and approved by the Upper House, and takes office upon my appointment for a term of three years. Theoretically speaking, each cabinet official may be re-elected for up to two consecutive terms, serving a maximum of five terms. The Cabinet Government holds executive power and is responsible to me. Aside from the Guard Army, all of our nation's military forces are managed by the Ministry of Defense. Building upon these foundations, I, as the ruler of the nation, possess supreme authority, including supreme Military Power. If the Cabinet Government accomplishes nothing, I may dissolve the Cabinet Government and demand a fresh election from the Lower House. What do your excellencies think?" Arthur spoke with a smile, yet the words he uttered sent a chill through the hearts of several prime ministers.
The thoughts of the several prime ministers were simple: they wished to rely on their original Colonial Rights to build an Autonomous Federal Union.
Even if Arthur were to carve away a portion of power, they could still leverage their original colonial foundations to become the upper echelons of the New Duchy.
Yet, executed according to Arthur's plan, apart from their advantages in original governance experience and status, everything else would have to compete against all Australians.
In other words, all of their privileges would be stripped away. If they wished to enter Australia's upper echelons, they could only rely on their own abilities and their prestige in the hearts of Australians.
"Your Highness, according to your proposal, isn't the power of our national monarch far too high? Of course, I am not doubting your capability. But should a succeeding ruler, or a ruler after that, happen to be relatively mediocre in ability, our nation is also very likely to plunge into a trough," Prime Minister Evan said tentatively.
It was already entirely obvious that Arthur wanted to establish a Specialized Duchy with a Dual Monarchy, whereas the several prime ministers desired an Autonomous Federal Union. These were two completely diametrically opposed concepts.
"This is not a matter we should be considering at present. Besides, if the monarch's ability proves insufficient in the future, he can also hand over his own powers to the Upper House to exercise. I believe that with the help of the Upper House, it will not come to the point of plunging the nation into crisis," Arthur said with a smile, directly dismissing Prime Minister Evan's probing.
The nation's political system and his own authority were Arthur's bottom line. Australia was Arthur's greatest fundamental base for the present and the future; Arthur absolutely refused to allow anyone to dare threaten his status.
What was more, the present was the easiest period in which to establish high monarchical power in Australia. If Arthur were to make concessions now, it would hardly be easy to elevate monarchical power in the future.
Seeing Arthur remain so resolute, the several prime ministers had no good methods for the moment either, and could only remain silent while frowning inwardly and plotting countermeasures.
"The final matter is the transformation of the various states. Australia's largest administrative divisions are the states, and we shall have a total of six states, namely the existing six colonies. The post of governor is extremely crucial, whether for the individual states or for the government. Therefore, the candidates for state governor must be chosen with the utmost caution. The candidates for governor shall be elected by the State Assemblies, approved by the Upper House, and officially take office. The term of office for each governor shall be four years, with re-election permitted for up to four consecutive terms, serving a maximum of six terms. A governor holds executive power within the scope of his state and is responsible to the Upper House and to me. The judicial power of the various states is reclaimed, and the judicial system adopts unified national rules. This will quickly put an end to the previous isolation among the various colonies, and rapidly promote cultural exchange and economic communication between the states," Arthur said with a smile, yet his words landed like a heavy bombshell exploding in the hearts of the six prime ministers.
If Arthur letting them serve as members of the Temporary Cabinet had previously made them feel that Arthur was making concessions, then these new regulations concerning the various states were now like sharp blades piercing their chests.
According to what Arthur stated, from now on the various states would possess only executive power, and would furthermore be answerable to the Upper House and Arthur. Although they could serve for four consecutive terms, without major accomplishments, preserving the position of governor would likely prove difficult.
This also represented that if the six prime ministers wished to vie for entry into Australia's upper echelons, they would have no choice but to rack their brains to launch an assault on the positions within the Upper House and the new Cabinet Government.
Yet neither of these institutions was so easy to enter, and more importantly, they were bound to secure the support of Arthur.
Such a turn of events meant that all their paths of retreat had already been severed by Arthur; if they wished to continue remaining within Australia's upper echelons, they had no choice but to earn Arthur's trust while displaying their own abilities.
It was not as though the several prime ministers had never considered resisting, but faced with Queen Victoria presiding in person and the fleet anchored outside the port, they very sensibly abandoned this notion.
After the several prime ministers chose resignation to their fate, the progress of the meeting became extremely swift.
Once Arthur and the several prime ministers had simply determined the governmental system, the powers of various institutions, and the reform of the states, the meeting was officially declared concluded.
In the days that followed, Arthur accompanied Queen Victoria for a proper tour of the streets of Sydney, and also inspected the Australian Army, which had already become a unified entity.
Having undergone several days of recuperation, Queen Victoria's complexion finally improved considerably, and she began to reveal smiles from time to time.
During these past few days, the several prime ministers had likewise become members of the Temporary Cabinet, and began setting about reforming the colonies under their respective administration.
All residents of the colonies also received the news of the colonies being reformed into states, and for a time everywhere was abuzz with heated discussions regarding Arthur's merits.
Indeed, Australians had longed for a long time for the various colonies to unite together to assemble a complete nation. Although it was not the Democratic Republic they had anticipated, Arthur had also officially proclaimed the formation of the Upper and Lower Houses, granting Australians their due rights.
Under such circumstances, how could the Australians fail to be grateful to Arthur—the ruler who enabled them to freely trade and travel throughout the entirety of Australia?
May 7, 1900, Sydney.
By this time, a full ten days had already passed since Arthur's arrival in Australia. Within these ten days, Australia had already welcomed earth-shaking transformations.
Because it was welcomed by all Australians, the progress of converting colonies into states had become exceedingly swift.
In merely a week or so, the original borders and outposts of the various states had all been abolished, transforming into state boundaries and patrol posts.
Residents of the various colonies had already begun calling themselves state residents, and were starting to freely shuttle about and roam through other states.
The formation of the Upper and Lower Houses had also shown signs of progress, with the various state governments having begun notifying all residents to participate in the upcoming Lower House elections, and seeking stationing locations for the State Assemblies in the capitals.
Yet simultaneously, there was also bad news for Arthur, which was that Queen Victoria was about to leave.
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