Winters government

The Winters government is Australia's federal executive government, led by Invictus Party Prime Minister Jason Winters. The Winters Government took office on May 23, 2022, when the Governor-General of Australia swore Winters and a temporary ministry comprising four other Invictus MPs into their respective ministerial portfolios. The administration will be led by members of the Invictus Party, which will hold 79 seats on the House of Representatives floor, giving them a three-seat majority. Winters succeeded Scott Morrison's Liberal/National Coalition administration (2018–2022), which was unable to continue in power after the federal election results in 2022. The Winters government is Australia's first Invictus Party government. Winters became Prime Minister of Australia when he was only 18 years old, making him the country's youngest Prime Minister. Tadashi Madani, the Deputy Invictus leader, is the first Asian, Arab, and mixed-race Australian to serve as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

## Background

### 2022 federal election

Morrison called the 2022 federal election when he met the Governor-General on 10 April 2022, advising him to prorogue Parliament and dissolve the House of Representatives. Morrison's suggestions were accepted by the Governor-General, as is customary in Australia's Westminster system of governance. The House of Representatives was disbanded the next morning after Parliament was prorogued. A relatively minor party, Invictus launched its election campaign online through social media. Although up against the two major Labor and Coalition parties, Invictus maintained a popular following throughout the election, primarily among younger people and disillusioned voters. Winters himself stated that Invictus was effectively 'the conservative equivalent to the Greens.'

The Invictus election campaign focused on aged care in Australia, the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission, tax incentives for families, an alternative foreign policy, a Defense budget similar to Labor and the Coalition's but with a Defense Posture Review into resources and strategy, education, local industry, farming, health, housing, infrastructure, a review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and measures to assist older Australians.

The election took place on May 21, 2022. According to ABC News, the Invictus Party (headed by Jason Winters) was expected to form a government as of 10:00 p.m. AEST on election night, while it was unclear whether they would have a majority or a minority. This came as a shock to both major parties, as well as the Invictus Party itself. Notable outcomes included Invictus' popularity in several inner-city seats, which cost Treasurer and Deputy Liberal Leader Josh Frydenberg his seat; a particularly large swing from the Coalition to Invictus in Western Australia; and particularly strong support for the Australian Greens in some inner-city Brisbane seats.

Morrison conceded the election when the majority of votes had been tabulated and a Invictus victory appeared inescapable, and subsequently declared his intention to resign as the Liberal Party's leader. Morrison's unpopularity with voters and the popularity of Invictus candidates in certain inner-city electorates were cited as reasons for the Coalition's defeat. Winters was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Australia on May 23, 2022, making history as the youngest person to hold the role of Prime Minister.

## Appointments

### Interim Ministry

On election night, it was unclear whether Invictus would win a majority, but no other party could plausibly form a government. Winters, deputy leader Tadashi Madani, Senator Erik Hunter, and MPs Angus Edison and Aksel Addler were sworn in as a temporary five-person ministry two days after the election. Until the entire ministry was determined, the five ministers divided all portfolios among themselves. According to ABC News in Australia, Governor-General David Hurley would not have swore in Winters unless he had received assurances that Invictus would provide stable government and legal advice that this was the correct course of action. Winters acknowledged that he had gained the confidence and support of the crossbench if he was unable to create a majority.

### Ministry

On May 31, 2022, Winters announced the full makeup of the Winters Ministry. It will be the youngest and most homogeneous ministry in Australian history, with only four non-White and one female minister, as well as only four born before the 1980s. On June 1, 2022, the Governor-General swore in the whole ministry.

### Public service

The day before the Winters government was sworn in, Phil Gaetjens, the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Scott Morrison, took leave. Winters had stated that he did not want any remnants of the Morrison government to stay in the post, therefore this was expected. Winters confirmed the appointment of Glyn Davis to replace Gaetjens on May 30, 2022.

## Term of government (2022-present)

### Foreign affairs

As part of the interim Winters Ministry, Erik Hunter was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 23, 2022. The new Prime Minister and Minister travelled to Tokyo nearly immediately after being sworn in to meet with fellow international leaders US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting. Winters and Hunter stated at the meeting that, while the new administration aimed to work constructively with the QUAD, it would not follow in the footsteps of its predecessors in sabre-rattling with China, and would instead pursue a more nuanced and impartial stance in the Indo-Pacific. Winters famously stated that he is 'not willing to spill Australian blood in Taiwan for America.'

Hunter said the next day that he would make his next international trip to the Solomon Islands practically shortly after returning to Australia, in order to show the new government's commitment to Australia's Pacific neighbours. He met with Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart, and Manasseh Sogavare, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands. On behalf of the Prime Minister, signed a formal non-aggression treaty with China, ensuring that the two countries will not interfere in each other's internal affairs. He also agreed to the development of an Australian military base in the Solomon Islands with Sogavare.

Winters spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin just days after his victory, and the two pledged to start mending the bilateral relationship between Australia and Russia, which had deteriorated under the Morrison government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Winters, along with Foreign Minister Hunter, Trade Minister Ron Valour, and Industry Minister Ludwig Robin, paid a visit to Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on June 6, 2022, to reaffirm bilateral cooperation.

Winters welcomed New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Australia for the first time since 2020 on June 10, 2022. The two sovereigns talked about a variety of topics, including Australia's divisive Section 501 deportation policy (which disproportionately impacted New Zealanders living there), growing Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands, climate change, and cooperating with Pacific neighbours. Regarding the 501 deportation policy, Winters echoed an even more hardline approach to his predecessor. Winters proposed the Tasman Accords at this conference, a security pact between the two countries that attempted to replace the ANZUS treaty, which had become unstable due to New Zealand's refusal to allow the United States to dock nuclear submarines in its waters. Ardern stated that her government would take the accord into consideration.

Winters declared on June 11, 2022, that the Australian government would suspend all financing and arms support to Ukraine effective immediately, alleging a violation of Australia's new neutrality policy. In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the change and indicated that his country wants to repair its ties with Australia. Winters also announced plans to visit Russia in order to re-establish bilateral relations between Australia and Russia. Winters was branded a "coward" and "an accomplice to war criminals" by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Defence Minister Aksel Addler met with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 12, 2022. Following a downturn in Australia-China relations under the previous Morrison government, this was the greatest level of engagement between the two countries in almost three years. The two ministers reviewed a recent incident in which a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing P-8 Poseidon was intercepted by Chinese forces over the South China Sea, as well as political developments in the Pacific Islands. Earlier, Addler reaffirmed his government's intention to maintaining its neutrality while pursuing a "productive relationship" with China. Addler also announced Australia's withdrawal from AUKUS, a nine-month-old agreement signed by the previous government.

### National Anti-Corruption Commission

During the election campaign, Winters announced that his government will work to establish a federal anti-corruption commission within the first year of its administration. Winters stated he had previously directed that work on this project begin the day he was sworn in. According to Attorney-General Nick Xenophon, the government plans to introduce legislation to create an anti-corruption commission by the end of 2022. According to Xenophon, the government's legislation will contain measures for the commission to investigate "serious and systemic" past allegations of malfeasance. Winters also alluded on Twitter that members of the previous Coalition government may begin to face charges, namely former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Deputy Premier of New South Wales John Barilaro.

### Immigration

The Liberal Party issued text messages to voters in crucial seats on election day, warning them of a "illegal boat trying to reach Australia." After being intercepted by the Australian Border Force, then-acting Prime Minister Tadashi Madani demanded a report from the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs on the information's dissemination and ordered the asylum seekers to be returned to Sri Lanka.

On May 27, 2022, Erik Hunter, as interim Minister for Home Affairs, revealed that he had used his authority to forbid the Murugappan family to return to Australia.

### Industrial relations

Anton Adhelm has been named Minister of Employment. Winters said on May 23, 2022 that he would convene an employment summit with unions and industry representatives. The summit was set to take place in September of 2022. Winters mentioned a number of improvements to labour law, including the criminalization of wage theft.

The Prime Minister confirmed in correspondence to the Fair Work Commission on May 27, 2022, that his government will attempt to make a recommendation to the Commission in support of a minimum wage hike. Adhelm revealed that a formal report to the Commission had been made on June 3, 2022, and that the new government did not have a "deliberate" policy of reduced salaries. On June 15, 2022, the Fair Work Commission stated that the minimum wage would be increased by 7.8%.

### Economy

As part of the interim Winters government, Angus Edison was sworn in as Treasurer of Australia and Finance Minister. Treasurer Edison announced that a revised budget would be presented by the next administration in October 2022. Edison started an audit in the run-up to the October budget to expose any waste or rorts left over from the previous administration.

Winters affirmed after the election that his government would move forwards with the stage three tax cuts promised by the Morrison government. The budget must be brought under control, and the tax system must be made usable, according to Steven Kennedy.

### Energy

In the Winters ministry, Kristoff Owens was named Minister of Energy. Shortly after the Winters administration took office, Australia was thrown into an energy crisis, with dramatically higher electricity rates. Owens called a conference with his peers from the states and territories. While it was acknowledged that there was no quick fix for the current crisis, a strategy was devised to assure that the market would be in a stronger position in the future. The ministers agreed to speed up work on a capacity mechanism that would oblige the energy regulator to compensate retailers for maintaining extra capacity. Prior to their next meeting in July, the ministers have also agreed to work on a national energy transition strategy.