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\u201cWelcome to the Republic of Westralia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before anti-secessionists bellow \u201ctreason\u201d, you must admit, it sounds quite catchy. Considering our state\u2019s rich musical history, the national anthem would be an absolute banger.<\/p>\n
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Is it time for WA to, as Fleetwood Mac sang, go our own way?WAtoday<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be honest, WA props up the national economy anyway, so would we truly miss our smug east coast cousins if we decided to sever ties with the rest of the country?<\/p>\n
At times \u2013 particularly when it comes to dividing GST<\/a> \u2013 the relationship with the other states has become more toxic than a cooped-up couple on Married at First Sight.<\/p>\n Because WA was late coming to the table when it came to federation, we\u2019ve always been treated like outcasts from the wild west.<\/p>\n Some Sandgropers have been hatching a plan to leave ever since.<\/p>\n One of the most compelling reasons for allowing WA to become an independent nation is that the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles would have the opportunity to represent their \u201ccountry\u201d in what could be termed the IFL (International Football League).<\/p>\n This may sound imbecilic, but under a radical proposal by secessionist and former barrister Julian Gillespie, the AFL could finally go \u201cglobal\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [the AFL] would gain international sporting status because it would involve players from a foreign nation, who just happened to be the guys next door,\u201d says Gillespie, the principal author of the new book, Secession by Western Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, Gillespie believes separated Sandgropers could become the envy of the nation because, after secession, West Aussies would pay no taxes.<\/p>\n Related Article The newly minted foreign country would be bankrolled by miners and oil and gas producers, who would be slugged a 20 per cent tax.<\/p>\n \u201cWestern Australians would retain 100 per cent of their pay packet, so immediately they\u2019ve got a leg up because once you move to independence, there is no further relationship with the federal government, so there is no obligation to pay one of the 13-plus taxes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only major tax here is what we are calling the 20 per cent Universal Royalty Rate, which applies to all miners in WA because that reflects WA\u2019s strength. \u201d<\/p>\n The tax would bring in approximately $48 billion annually to the new nation\u2019s coffers.<\/p>\n It gets juicier. Under the secession model, WA would get to keep all its GST.<\/p>\n Currently, WA gets 75 cents for every dollar of GST revenue. Around $9.3 billion in GST payments is expected to pour into the state\u2019s kitty this financial year.<\/p>\n However, WA\u2019s GST deal is under threat, with the Productivity Commission reviewing its national funding arrangements after several states complained<\/a> they were being treated unfairly.<\/p>\n But according to Gillespie, WA wouldn\u2019t have to cough up a brass razoo to the federation if it exited stage right from the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder the new nation, it would be WA\u2019s GST. That\u2019s it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might rebrand, so there is no confusion, so you might call it WA\u2019s GST, but there\u2019s no flow to what is effectively the foreign nation of the Commonwealth of Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n All hail the new country of Westralia.<\/p>\n There also wouldn\u2019t be any separation anxiety if WA waved goodbye to the Commonwealth, given we had a glimpse of independence during COVID-19, when then-premier Mark McGowan sealed us off from the rest of the globe for a couple of years.<\/p>\n But before you put down a deposit on a new jet ski, there doesn\u2019t seem to be a strong push from Sandgropers for self-governance.<\/p>\n The WAxit Party received just 0.34 per cent of the vote at the 2021 state election.<\/p>\n Related Article And the secession movement isn\u2019t new.<\/p>\n In April 1933, 66 per cent of West Australians voted \u201cyes\u201d in a referendum to secede from the rest of Australia. Despite almost two-thirds of Sandgropers voting yes, the UK Parliament kyboshed the move after receiving a petition from the state.<\/p>\n Despite the secession movement gaining momentum again, Federal member for Perth, Patrick Gorman, said now was not the time for \u201cidiotic ideas\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cSecession will leave Western Australia with a weaker economy and no defence force,\u201d he posted on Facebook.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one wants to pay for a visa to visit family in other states.\u201d<\/p>\n But West Aussies won\u2019t be grumble over the idea of paying an entry fee. We tend to skip the eastern seaboard for Bali, anyway.<\/p>\n It\u2019s extremely unlikely that our state will ever go its own way for myriad constitutional reasons.<\/p>\n But blimey, \u201cthe Republic of Westralia\u201d has a charming ring to it.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773429790_557_174d5ff4481626436dbe8716b2fa6ffc23e3bbfb.jpeg\")
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