Category Archives: Asides

Unsubstantiated accounts are emerging of a genuine plot devised by mining magnate and world’s richest woman, Gina Rinehart in consultation with WA Premier Colin Barnett along with other leading business members in the West including Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest for Western Australia to formally secede from the Commonwealth of Australia, with the possibility of the Northern Territory following.

World’s second wealthiest individual, key player in WA secession plan

Naturally, such a move would require not only support from the Federal Government, which is extremely unlikely to say the least, but also a referendum in favour from the West Australian public. However, word is that Gina Rinehart, through her interests in Channel Ten and Fairfax media will launch a $1.5 billion media blitz campaign across Australia extolling not only the virtues of an independent ‘Westralia’ for Western Australians but also aimed at enticing young, skilled and unskilled Australians from the south and east to the relative prosperity of the West.

Western Australia, Australia’s largest State and the fourth most populous in Australia is a vast, resource rich region containing one-third of the nation’s landmass and some of the world’s most mineral rich land in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. A somewhat reluctant entrant to the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, Western Australia has often bemoaned the distance – geographically and metaphorically – between itself and eastern Australia. Indeed, its capital Perth is closer to Singapore than Sydney, and ‘Sandgropers’ as they’re affectionately known have often lamented the lack of say they feel they have in the distribution of the wealth their State creates, strongly criticising the flow of capital from their State to the rest of Australia during boom periods, in particular the prolonged and profitable mining boom they are in the midst of now.

WA secession plans – as old as Australia itself

The State, with a population of over 2.4 million, has seen prolonged economic growth through its resource boom and accompanying trade with Asia, particularly China, and increasingly believes that it not only can go it alone but it is in its best interests to go it alone. This is not the first time Western Australia has discussed secession (Hell, Gina’s father even set up the Westralian Secession Movement in 1974!), with prior talk of seceding coinciding, unsurprisingly, with previous booms. There was even an unsuccessful referendum in 1933. But, this time, the talk of secession seems significant with substantial State and local Government, community, and perhaps most importantly, big business support in WA to go it alone.

Secessionist how to vote card from unsuccessful 1933 referendum

The plan – if confirmed to be true – is a media blitz through the West Australian newspaper and local media outlets throughout WA, and through Fairfax newspapers, including The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and nationwide through Channel Ten extolling the virtues of an independent WA. Talk of significant incentives to businesses and individuals to relocate west are also in the air. The apparent timeline is as follows: Nationwide media blitz commencing on Anzac Day – April 25; WA business and government delegations commencing overseas trade missions and discussions on virtues of secession – May 1; call for WA referendum – November 1; and Federal referendum – January 1, 2014.

Significantly, the Northern Territory – which is experiencing its own boom and is conveniently located nearby south east Asia has unofficially been approached on the idea of joining the secession movement with word that new Chief Minister of NT, Adam Giles is strongly considering the proposal. (And, that perhaps Giles was installed as new Chief Minister for his support of the proposal).

Could Darwin be in on this too?

It’s been alleged that the new nation would comprise of 6 ‘regions’ (if NT follows suit) and 4 if Western Australia goes it alone. The names are yet to be released but it is believed that one region would comprise of the Kimberleys and far north west WA; another the Pilbara and central Western Australia including the interior up to the NT border; another stretching from Kalbarri in the north along the coast to the Peel region including Perth; and a fourth comprising of south west WA including Bunbury, Albany, Esperance, Kalgoorlie and the Nullarbor through to the SA border. If the Northern Territory does join the union, there’ll be a northern ‘region’ extending from the Top End to south of Katherine; and southern ‘region’ taking in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and the Red Centre.

But, what if the Federal Government doesn’t consent to this proposed secession?

Well, this is where the details get murkier, and frankly, most disturbing. It is alleged that prominent WA business figures, who can’t be named, along with senior members of the WA Parliament have already received tacit approval and backing for this new ‘nation’ from China, Indonesia and the US; with unconfirmed reports suggesting these nations will provide whatever support necessary to ‘ensure’ the new nation is created. Bear in mind, the US does have military presence both in WA and NT.

As a sweetener, alledgely the US has been offered significant increases in the size and scope of their current installations in Western Australia (and the Northern Territory); China has been offered exclusive contracts at basement prices for WA minerals and resources; and unofficially a pact has been signed between Western Australia and Indonesia that will see 200,000 skilled and unskilled migrant workers work in WA over a 25 year period with the chance of increasing those numbers at any time.

And, lastly, if you have read up to this point, congratulations! You’ve been punked! Happy April Fools’ Day!

This is true however.