Chapter 152: Chapter 147: Annual Government Report Meeting

Of course, before the National Day arrives, the Australian Government has a very important conference to hold, which is the annual governmental annual report summary.

At this time of the year, it is also used to measure all the things and political achievements that each department and all officers have done in the past year, and it can even determine whether they can remain in this position in the next election.

Although the competition in Australian politics is not fierce, these ministers have a very high chance of re-election under the condition that they do not make mistakes.

However, there is one variable, which is Arthur’s attitude. As the de facto Duke of Australia, Arthur has the power to appoint cabinet members.

Once these officers cause Arthur’s dissatisfaction due to incompetence or slackness, and they lose their position for nothing, it would be a great loss.

You should know that although Australia has a low reputation internationally, it is also a huge country with a territory of millions of square kilometers and a population of millions.

In such a country, becoming a cabinet minister and a cabinet member is far more powerful than being an ordinary officer.

Moreover, it is easy to move from frugality to luxury, but hard to move from luxury to frugality. After these officials have tasted the enormous power of the cabinet members, it would be like cutting a piece of flesh from their hearts if they want them to give up these powers.

Therefore, these cabinet members take this government annual report summary meeting very seriously, and not only have they summarized all the evidences they have done within their respective departments for a year, they have also collected a lot of materials and made clear layouts for the plans of their respective departments for the next year.

December 31,1902, this is the last day of 1902, and it is also the day when the Australian Cabinet Government holds the annual summary report meeting.

Early in the morning, several cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Evan, arrived early at the meeting room, each carefully studying the materials in their hands, for fear of forgetting some data.

If Arthur suddenly asked them about some data in their respective departments and they didn’t know, then it would be a big joke.

Can a person who doesn’t know the data of their own department be interpreted as incompetent or derelict of duty?

At 8 0 clock in the morning, Arthur arrived at the meeting room on the top floor of the National Government Building on time.

Everyone stood up to salute, and they all sat down at Arthur’s gesture.

Everyone, 1902 is coming to the end, and we are about to welcome a brand new 1903. Similarly, our cabinet government has also experienced a full year of work, and it must have achieved a lot of achievements. Now, it is also the time for all of us to examine the achievements of the government’s work. Prime Minister Evan, let’s start with you! Introduce the overall achievements of the cabinet government and let everyone know about the changes in Australia.” After everyone sat down, Arthur said straightforwardly.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Prime Minister Evan nodded slightly respectfully, picked up the prepared data report, and walked step by step to the podium in the center of the round conference table.

“Your Highness, everyone. Looking closely at 1902, the most eye-catching change in Australia is still in industry and economy. In terms of industry, our steel production, industrial areas, and the number of large, medium and small factories continue to climb, and in some aspects, it is already on par with some small European countries. Of course, our goal is far more than this, the various construction and development of Australia still need to continue, and vigorously promote.” Prime Minister Evan began.

The changes in industry, I would like to invite Minister Pierre to say more.

There are many changes in this area, and it is also one of the areas with the most changes in Australia.” Prime Minister Evan looked at Minister of Industry Pierre and said with a smile.

“Happy to serve.” Minister of Industry Pierre nodded with a smile, walked to the podium and temporarily took over Prime Minister Evan’s position.

“Your Highness, Your Excellency Prime Minister, colleagues. Looking at the whole 1902, the industrial changes in Australia are earth-shattering. If we say that we initially had some industrial output a year ago, then now we have initially become an industrial country.” Minister Pierre took out the materials he had prepared and spoke with neither humility nor arrogance.

First of all, the biggest and most obvious changes are our steel production. Last year, our steel and iron production had reached 61,000 tons and 93,000 tons, and it was already able to be compared with some European countries.” Minister Pierre reported: “Now we have far surpassed this number. So far, our steel and iron production has reached 263,100 tons and 422,200 tons respectively. The rates of increase are 3.8 times and 4-5 times. In terms of steel output, we are already one-sixth of France and one-thirtieth of Germany.” Is it shameful to be one-sixth of France and one-thirtieth of Germany? No, it’s not embarrassing, and it’s even an honor.

These two countries, one is a former dominant power in Europe, and the other is now the dominant power in Central Europe and the second major power.

These two countries have long had a relatively complete industrial system, and their industrial strength is absolutely at a great power level.

Although France’s decline is clear, that Australia’s steel production can reach one-sixth of France’s is enough to prove how rapid Australia’s industrial development is.

It must be noted that when the Australian Principality was just established, the total steel output was just less than 10,000 tons.

And Arthur has been in Australia for only a little over two years, and the steel production has reached a terrifying 260,000 tons or above, and the total steel output has even exceeded 680,000 tons.

This level has even exceeded the island nation that has been undergoing reforms for decades, and in terms of steel output, it can already be ranked as one of the top fifteen in the world.

Of course, this ranking is actually quite false, and the industrial scale of any major power country is several times or even dozens of times that of Australia.

Hearing about the huge achievement in steel production, Arthur nodded satisfactorily.

Australia’s construction and development in all aspects need a large amount of steel production, and the current steel production is just enough to meet the needs of domestic construction and development.

For Australia, which has a lot of very rich mineral resources, its industrial scale can only be big, not small.

On the premise of having sufficient mineral resource supply, Arthur’s expectation for Australia’s industry is to reach a major power level.

Seeing Arthur has no questions, Pierre, the Minister of Industry, continued, “So far, we have added three industrial areas, making the total number five. These five industrial areas are respectively located in West Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria State. Among them, New South Wales, due to its larger population, is currently the only state with two industrial areas.”

The establishment of industrial areas previously depended on the population of each state. Especially for states with smaller populations like Tasmania State, there is no need to set up industrial areas temporarily.