What if each Australian state became independent?

Australia’s biggest state would have an economy only slightly larger than Nigeria and the smallest the size of Botswana if federation collapsed.

Wealthier states like New South Wales and Victoria would survive as their own entities boasting economies bigger than many European nations.

However, others like the Northern Territory could struggle as their budgets are propped up by the federal government.

Before Australian independence in 1901, each state was a separate British colony that voted to join together as one nation.

 

Australia’s biggest state would have an economy only slightly larger than Nigeria and the smallest the size of Botswana if federation collapsed

As a result, each state has its own government, constitution, and courts that could become national systems if Australia split up.

A video by a Portuguese YouTuber even speculated what flag each state might adopt without the British symbols of their existing ones.

New South Wales 

NSW has a gross state product of $593 billion, which would rank 30th in the world between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

Almost a third of Australia’s $1.81 trillion GDP comes out of the state, $75,000 for each of its almost 8 million residents.

The state benefits from being the regional headquarters of the vast majority of major businesses and almost half the country’s financial and a third of its communications and manufacturing economy.

Sydney is also Australia’s biggest tourism destination and produces more than $60 billion worth of exports.

The video suggested ditching the the St George cross with an English lion on its flag and replacing it with the waratah flower.

Before Australian independence in 1901, each state was a separate British colony that voted to join together as one nation

Before Australian independence in 1901, each state was a separate British colony that voted to join together as one nation

Sydney pictured at federation in 1901. If NSW broke away it would have a gross state product of $593 billion, which would rank 30th in the world between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates

Sydney pictured at federation in 1901. If NSW broke away it would have a gross state product of $593 billion, which would rank 30th in the world between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates

Victoria

The two biggest states were fierce rivals in their former colonial lives, forcing the neutral capital of Canberra to be built, and that would be revived after independence.

Victoria’s GSP is a bit lacking however at just over two third’s of NSW’s at $424 billion – good enough for 40th in the world behind Chile.

The southern state, which split away from NSW in 1851, now makes up about 23 per cent of the national economy and is the headquarters of the retail industry.

Commonwealth Bank ranked it the best performer in the 2018 financial year with the highest economic growth, retail trade, and construction work, and top job market.

Victoria’s boring state flag could be replaced with the southern cross split with a leafy seadragon, an aquatic animal native to its waters.

Queensland

Agriculture and mining could net big profits for Queensland in trade with the southern states, particularly as it produces 90 per cent of Australia’s sugar.

With a GSP of $339.5 billion, about $66,400 per person, its economy would rank 48th in the world between Portugal and Iraq.

More than $6 billion from tourism along the Great Barrier Reef, along with its natural resources, helps its per capita earnings be almost exactly the same as Victoria. 

Named after Queen Victoria, a new name would probably be required for an independent country, along with ditching the crown in the middle of its Maltese Cross emblem.

The Ceremony of Signing the Oath by Lord Hopetoun on New Year's Day in Centennial Park, Sydney. officially declaring Australia to be independent and united

The Ceremony of Signing the Oath by Lord Hopetoun on New Year’s Day in Centennial Park, Sydney. officially declaring Australia to be independent and united

Western Australia

The mining-rich state is the only one that has ever actually tried to secede from Australian and form its own country.

Reluctant to join the federation in the first place, and 68 per cent voted to leave in a referendum in 1933 as unemployment hit 30 per cent.

However, the vote was ignored by the commonwealth and Britain said it was not legally able to enforce the result.

Other failed attempts followed, but if one were to succeed its $256 billion GSP would rank 54th in the world, just above Kazakhstan.

WA’s massive mining resources mean it ranks second in per capita GSP with just under $100,000 per person, and give it a strong trading position.

A new flag would simply remove the Union Jack and make the black swan emblem and its yellow background more prominent.

Australia's separate and competing colonies in 1862 with the NT part of Queensland

Australia’s separate and competing colonies in 1862 with the NT part of Queensland

South Australia

As the only state that shares a border with every other mainland one, it could boost its $106 billion GSP by charging tariffs on land transport between east and west.

An independent South Australia would be 69th in the world, just above Burma, and it currently produces $61,000 per person – just 5.84 per cent of the national economy.

The state used to do 44 per cent of Australia’s car manufacturing until the major companies shipped the jobs overseas.

An independent SA could make up for this loss by exploiting its massive deposit of uranium, which makes up a third of the world’s reserves. 

Like WA, the flag could be easily edited to highlight the state bird, the piping shrike.

Tasmania

With a small population and 42 per cent of its land mass protected as national parks and heritage areas, Tasmania’s economy is the smallest per capita in Australia.

Just 528,000 people live on the Apple Isle producing a GSP of $30 billion, $9 billion smaller than the ACT, ranking 110th just above Bosnia.

Tassie’s per capita economy is still fairly high in world terms and would likely be able to sustain itself as a tiny nation if its population stayed in check.

Independent Australian states could adopt new flags without the British symbols of their existing ones (pictured)

Independent Australian states could adopt new flags without the British symbols of their existing ones (pictured)

Northern Territory

The NT could skip statehood altogether and declare independence, but might find it tough going with a GSP of just $26.2 billion.

Ranking with Botswana at 113th, it has the highest per capita in Australia at $106,000 but a massive area to cover.

About 80 per cent of its budget comes from federal grants and GST payments, so it would struggle without what would effectively be foreign aid.

NT already has a flag free from British trappings with a structure that the other states could replicate for their own.

Australian Capital Territory

Established solely to house the national capital, which would be redundant in a fragmented Australia, it only covers 2,358sqm.

Unlikely to function on its own, the ACT would likely be annexed by NSW, though it’s not clear what would become of its federal government infrastructure. 

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