Queensland and Kingsland - Can you split a State in two? 

Katter might have more luck in moving the Qld Parliament to Mt Isa. I'm sure the Brizzy based polies would have fainting spells at the thought.

Great video, thank you. To those interested in the case of New England there's a great museum at the Saumarez Homestead in Armidale. The White family who owned the station were ardent supporters of statehood, and there remain in the homestead several artefacts related to their endeavours in promoting such notion.

A thing that needs to be noted for the New england state referdum was that the "borders" of the state where extended past trraditional New englsnd including Newcastle. From what im aware its pretty much been confirmed that this was done to gerrymander the borders, the feredum was popular and passed in traditional New England but was very unpopular in Newcastle.

Thank you so much for this. Fascinating.

It seems to me like an issue in which the idea actually DOES have a (big asterisk) relatively clear provision in the constitution, but in just about every case in real life would lead to political, social, and economic headaches all around. I wonder if the framers of the constitution predicted that Australia would have its own "manifest destiny" period of growth some time in the 20th century in the same way the US did in the 19th, which would require the creation of more states.

Bob Menzies once dallied with the idea of re-dividing Australia into seventeen states. However, wiser counsel prevailed.

Of course North Queensland and New England should be new states, but the politicians and businessmen of the big cities will make sure that it doesn't happen.

Just make North QLD its own country

Very interesting, thank you.

Driving through Australia, it does seem like the borders aren’t in logical locations. North Qld is very different to SEQ and also a long distance away. Additionally why is there a border through Coolangatta and Tweed Heads? Also locations like Kingscliffe, Byron Bay, and even as far south as Lismore seem more culturally connected with SEQ than Sydney. Furthermore, drawing a border right down the Murray River is a ridiculous idea as there will always be settlements on both sides of the river, why should they be in different states? Surely towns along a river have more in common with each other rather than Sydney or Melbourne. At least the following states make a lot of sense: - Victoria - Riverina - NSW - South Qld (from Lismore to ~Bundaberg) - North Qld

That actually was really interesting.

Thanks

If we can cope with the NT (yes not a state) and Tas and perhaps in a bad year SA, economics have nothing to do with "statehood"! A greater reason for NOT splitting is that we have enough "characters" (ie idiot politicians) from that part of the world.

thank you Professor,i always enjoy your contributions......Nth Qld has a climate that tends to wreck havoc on its infastructure. Any new state would be bankrupted by climate change

Queensland does need constitutional reform due to a unicameral parliament in a vast state with a strong regional population. If they don’t look at the electoral system (NZ style?) or restarting the Legislative Council, then splitting the state into two is the next path.

Hi, I love your video. I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on national bodies created by state legislation - such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). There seems to be lots of confusion around what kind of entity AHPRA is and what jurisdiction it falls under - it's created by state legislation, replicated (with amendments) in each state but it refers to itself as a national body. The confusion recently caused a state government body to state: "While I accept that AHPRA has participating jurisdiction (state) offices with State Managers in each jurisdiction, the agency is not a State entity or department.The current arrangement [the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act (Qld)] maintains the powers of the State without conferring power to the Commonwealth per se". The former health minister Hon MP Greg Hunt's office has stated categorically that AHPRA is not under federal jurisdiction and Qld state government bodies have stated it's not under state jurisdiction (and obviously it's not a local government body)...what class of entity is AHPRA and what jurisdiction does it fall under and is it constitutionally valid to create a body that "reprsents the state" and "binds the state", that represents itself as a state public administration in state Supreme Court judicial review, but does not accept oversight of either the federal or state anti-corruption bodies because it defines itself as a "national entity" and not a state body.

So theoretically does a new state HAVE to be created from an old state/territory ?I know it would never happen but could legally Australia have a non contiguous state ?or even accept an former country as a state? on that note its a common myth here that Texas can Unilaterally spilt into five and/or secede due to there agreement when they joined the union . This is a myth however .the treaty does state that Texas has that power to spilt up..but with congressional approval.(so basically Texas just gets to ask quicker) and secession is impossible. great video as always thank you!

Conversely could a federal referendum remove the status of an “original state”. It would require only a majority in 4 of the 5 remaining states, and the votes against in the state in question need not have much impact on the national vote.

North Queensland has more than coal. It has bauxite, copper, tin and gold. Also sugar, cattle and tourism.

How long have North Queensland state Idea floating around, Answer 1901 (OK, I might be wrong on the year). Bobby Carter please got back to Trager and leave SEQ alone

Can you do a video on WA seceding please

How about eliminating all borders, one size railway line, one law for all people, less politicians and no councils Australia wide

Of course it's over 160 years too late, but I wonder if Australia wouldn't be better off with a couple of dozen 'provinces' such as New England, Gippsland, the greater Mt Gambier / Hamilton area, etc. The provinces would incorporate the powers of local councils and only have some of the state powers, with the rest going to the Commonwealth. That would give us only two tiers of government, so less idiot politicians, but genuine local representation in the provincial governments. Of course, it's totally impossible for it to happen now, but I find it an interesting thing to ponder.

That's not the real question. The real question is, "Can you split a State into two?"

Gold Coast and Brisbane would become slums without the regional centres that keep it going, they'll suck the life out of everything that's left

why in god’s name would you call a northern state splitting off from Queensland “Kingsland”. The obvious name is “Capricornia”since the vast majority of the state would be inside the tropical zone.

Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns do not deserve to be in capital cities

I find it pretty discouraging how many comments describe politicians as "idiots" and advocate for a system with less representation. They're accountable to you, and unless you've been copping fines you've also been chosing them. If you want better policy, don't demean the policymakers. It shifts the selection criteria towards "thick skin" and away from others you'd like to see.

The number of state is listed in the constitution, so any isplit of Queensland would take a referendum and the other states couln't give a stuff about North Queensland so getting the numbers will be worse than sleezies' voive question!

Are you an economics expert? Or a Constitutional expert? Might be a good idea to stick to your knitting.

Why would you want to call NORTH QUEENSLAND "Kingsland"? Is your country still that tied to Britain? Well I guess it is considering your flag and that Australia is still under the British monarchy, a British Dominion or Crown "Realm"and although independent , not really a sovereign nation yet !?? But I'm sure most North Queensland people would prefer "North Queensland"!

Kingsland my arse call it Capricorn