Secessionism in Western Australia

Flag of the "Dominion of Westralia" as proposed in 1934
Secessionist how-to-vote card, 1933

Secessionism has been a recurring feature of Western Australia's political landscape since shortly after Federation in 1901.[a][3] The idea of self-governance or secession has often been discussed through local newspaper articles and editorials.[4][5] On a number of occasions secession has been a serious political issue for the State, including in a successful but unimplemented 1933 state referendum.

One recurring argument by proponents of secession is based on the assumption that a federal government in Canberra will favour the business and popular interests of the larger population centres lying to the east of this state.[6][7][8][9] A common complaint is that Western Australia is a forgotten or Cinderella state, which contributes more to federal funds than it gets back, and is discriminated against by the more populous states.[10][11][12] The Constitution of Australia, however, describes the union as "one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth"[13] and makes no provision for states to secede.[b] Western Australia is the only state not specifically listed in this preamble, as its final decision to join came too late for the constitution, already enacted by the UK Parliament, to be altered.[14]

  1. ^ Musgrave, p. 100.
  2. ^ Craven, Gregory (1986). Secession, the ultimate states right. Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press. p. 31. ISBN 0522843174. OCLC 16867753.
  3. ^ Wright, Shane (24 April 2010). "Welcome... to the Republic of Western Australia". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021. Western Australia has had a long history of flirting with the idea of becoming its own nation state
  4. ^ Quekett, Malcolm (6 September 2017). "Westralia, 'we're flying highhhhh'". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  5. ^ Ker, Peter; Perth (29 June 2011). "Miners talk secession, recalling the heady times of 1933". The Age. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  6. ^ Harrop, Daniel (2011). "The Republic of Western Australia: The Legal Possibility of Western Australia's Secession from the Australian Federation" (PDF). The Western Australian Jurist (3): 233–250. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  7. ^ Smith, Dean (20 April 2017). "Paltry GST share fires up WA secession fervour". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  8. ^ Heriot, Dianne (1 September 2017). "Western Australia: State of secession?". aph.gov.au. Parliament House, Canberra: Australian Parliament. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  9. ^ Hiller, Harry H. (1987). "Secession in Western Australia: A Continuing Phenomenon?". The Australian Quarterly. 59 (2): 222–233. doi:10.2307/20635434. JSTOR 20635434.
  10. ^ Western Australia: The Cinderella state of the Commonwealth, Barclay & Sharland, 1920, archived from the original on 19 December 2020, retrieved 9 April 2013
  11. ^ Western Australia Now and Then. "Cinderella State". wanowandthen.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia – Trove.
  12. ^ Thomas, Athol (10 October 1978), "Sunshine and space make the Cinderella State an exciting place", The Bulletin (10 Oct 1978), Sydney: 65–67+, ISSN 0007-4039
  13. ^ The Attorney-General's Department. "Preamble to the Australian Constitution". Archived from the original on 10 May 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2006.
  14. ^ Australian Electoral Commission. "Federation Fact Sheet 1 – The Referendums 1898–1900". Australian Electoral Commission. Canberra ACT 2600: Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021. By 1900 Western Australia had still not taken steps to hold a referendum. ... Finally, on 31 July 1900, when the Commonwealth Constitution Bill had already been enacted by the British Parliament, a referendum was held in which a large majority voted in favour of Federation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)


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