Lower House Election

On the bustling square, a few birds tentatively landed on a branch, about to look for insects among the leaves, when they were startled away by the cheers of the crowd below. They left behind a feather drifting slowly, a testament to their arrival.

On the high platform, Arthur looked at the cheering crowd with great satisfaction. It seemed that Arthur's plan to lower taxes and win popular support had been a great success. If the Australians' desire for unification had made them anticipate Arthur's rule, then after the tax reduction, they had begun to welcome and rejoice in Arthur's arrival.

Since that was the case, Arthur didn't mind adding a little more fuel to the fire. He signaled for the crowd to quiet down, as there was more important news to announce.

As expected, after seeing Arthur's gesture, the previously noisy square fell silent with lightning speed, as if they hadn't been noisy at all.

Arthur was very pleased with the effect and said with a smile, "At the same time, I have a very important matter to announce. Although we are a monarchy, I am also very happy to grant my subjects their due rights. I declare that the Upper House and the Lower House are officially established. The election period for the Lower House will be from May 10th to May 17th, held every two years. From the 18th to the 24th will be for tallying the results, and the elected members of the Lower House will be officially inaugurated on May 25th. Now, every Australian can proudly declare that you can freely fight for your own rights!"

"Long live Your Highness! Long live Australia!"

With Arthur's bombshells dropping one after another, all the Australians present were increasingly satisfied with Arthur. Everyone was glad that the Federal Council had been blocked by Britain at the time. Otherwise, if the rulers of the former colonies continued to govern Australia, it was debatable whether taxes would be reduced at all, let alone granting rights to Australians.

"My subjects, all adult Australians can participate in the election of the Lower House, and all adult Australians have one vote. During the election period, I will dispatch the Guard Army to supervise the election sites to ensure that no fraud occurs in our Lower House elections. The Lower House has the right to enact and amend ordinary laws and elect Cabinet Members, and it is one of the most important departments in Australia. Now, as the Duke of Australia, I declare that this right is granted to all my people. Let all Australians participate and witness together as Australia rises in this beautiful world. Long live Australia!" Arthur became more and more excited as he spoke, and finally even shouted loudly.

However, no one noticed Arthur's slightly out-of-control behavior at this moment. Everyone was immersed in joy and excitement, shouting along with Arthur.

Amidst cheers and applause, Arthur perfectly concluded his coronation speech.

If Arthur had been mysterious and full of anticipation in the hearts of Australians before, then now, in the hearts of Australians, Arthur's status had surpassed that of Queen Victoria, who had ruled them for decades. He was now a very benevolent and outstanding monarch.

If Arthur could continue to maintain his popularity and reputation among the Australian people, then his position in Australia would be unshakeable.

May 9, 1900, Sydney Harbour.

After staying in Australia for more than ten days, Queen Victoria finally had to continue her journey to the Isle of Wight.

Looking at the boy who was now taller than her, Queen Victoria was a little emotional. She smiled and said, "Arthur, your speech was excellent. I believe that under your leadership, Australia will become the most brilliant pearl of Oceania."

"Grandmother, you must take care of yourself. Arthur is waiting to attend your 70th-anniversary coronation celebration!" Arthur did not answer Queen Victoria's praise but said to her with reluctance.

"Hahaha, good child, Grandmother knows. Your mother and two sisters still need your care in Australia. I have already arranged for the best teachers from Britain to come and teach you and them. I hope that the next time we meet, my Arthur will have grown into an excellent ruler, and Grandmother will be proud of you." Queen Victoria kissed Arthur's forehead, then, with Princess Beatrice and the fleet, she turned and left without looking back.

If it weren't for Queen Victoria's slight tremor of her shoulders betraying her inner feelings, perhaps this farewell would not have been so sad.

After seeing Queen Victoria off, Arthur needed to receive the precious wealth Queen Victoria had left him.

A full two thousand members of the British Royal Guard Army and their families, nearly eight thousand people, as well as two British chefs, two maids, six servants, and a private tailor.

In addition to these, there were two hundred and thirty-seven million Pounds Sterling and industrial equipment worth fifty million, as well as Arthur's two munitions factories, one steel mill, and one shipyard in Britain. Important equipment and skilled workers had all been transferred here by Arthur.

To be honest, Arthur was very fortunate to be born into the British Royal Family, and to be the only son of Duke Arthur, Queen Victoria's most beloved son.

Even though his fiefdom had been moved to Australia, which had no industry or infrastructure, he could still have a starting capital of over two hundred million Pounds Sterling, industrial equipment worth fifty million Pounds Sterling, and several factories.

Let alone the vastness of the two hundred million, even just the fifty million Pounds Sterling worth of industrial equipment and these few factories would be enough to rapidly expand Australia's industry and bridge the gap with Western countries.

More importantly, Australia possessed abundant mineral resources, including coal, iron, aluminum, oil, natural gas, gold, silver, and various other minerals. The reserves of each mineral were very rich, enough to build Australia into a powerful industrial nation.

Australia also had very rich natural uranium ore. It should be known that uranium-235 extracted from uranium ore is one of the main materials for manufacturing atomic bombs. Even in later generations, the total exploitable natural uranium ore in the world was only 5 million tons, while Australia possessed 610,000 tons, more than one-ninth.

With such abundant mineral resources, coupled with a huge starting capital and a large amount of industrial equipment, and support from the most powerful industrial nation, the British Empire, in a short period, Arthur was fully confident that he could elevate Australia's industrial level to second-rate in Europe within a short time, and even challenge first-rate in Europe.

What's more, Australia also had a unique geographical environment at this time. Oceania, where it was located, had no competitors. The two potential rivals, one an island nation and the other the United States, would not pose a threat to Australia in the short term due to various reasons and limitations.

First update, seeking various votes!