Austrialia Victorious! The Hutt Nation Surrenders to Australia - Politics Forum.org | PoFo

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#15112676
Interesting piece of news:

Ronan O'Connell of CNN wrote:Set on 75 square kilometers of farming land, it was more than twice the size of Macau but populated by less than 30 people.
The principality -- though not officially recognized by the Australian government -- acted like an independent nation. Its government granted visas and driver's licenses, issued passports and currency, produced its own stamps, flew its own flag and reportedly operated 13 foreign offices in 10 different countries, including the US and France.

Now its rollicking journey is over.

When Prince Leonard died in February last year he left behind a US$2.15 million tax bill, which forced his son and successor, Prince Graeme Casley, to announce last week the principality would sell its land to pay the debt.

Casley told CNN Travel he was devastated to dissolve the micronation.

"It's very sad watching your father build up something for 50 years and then you have to close it down," said Casley. "They're very harsh times economically and health wise around the world due to Covid and we're feeling that too."

Micronations are entities that claim to be sovereign states but aren't legally considered independent, as opposed to microstates like Vatican City, which have internationally recognized sovereignty.

Australia has spawned far more micronations than most countries.

Over recent decades, dozens of its citizens have declared independence from Australia, and set up their own nation within a nation.

None, however, are as renowned as the Principality of Hutt River -- also known as Hutt River Province -- which has created headlines across the world for the past 50 years.

While Prince Leonard originally decided to secede from Australia over his disagreement with farming regulations, he turned the principality into a unique tourist attraction, with visitors arriving to buy passports, currency and stamps.

But, like tourism destinations around the world, the principality had been left vulnerable due to the economic impact of the pandemic.


Ronan O'Connell of CNN wrote:When he learned the Australian government was pursuing the principality over unpaid taxes, he reportedly consulted his own government and, rather than pay, decided to declare war. How he intended to wage battles was not clear, given the Royal Hutt River Defence Force was not established until 11 years later.


Ronan O'Connell of CNN wrote:Prince Leonard's war against Australia lasted only a few days, and this brazen show of force did nothing to deter the Australian Taxation Office.

The ATO continued to pursue the Principality over unpaid bills, which belatedly prompted its surrender last week.


https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/aust ... index.html
#15136762
Politics_Observer wrote:@ness31

I was routing for Australia on this one. My team won!


LOL! Routing is either the process of selecting a path for traffic in a network or between or across multiple networks, or defeating a force and causing it to retreat in disorder. Which one applies to your statement? ;)

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