Draft
Aim:
To nominate a city and region (or cities and regions) in Australia where Libertarians might choose to relocate in order to be able to vote for policies which minimise the influence of the state.
Background:
The Free State Project in the United States is a movement to encourage migration within the United States of America to New Hampshire.
The stated core belief of the Free State project is:
“I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individuals’ rights to life, liberty, and property”
No such movement exists within Australia.
Movement of people within Australia to a particular state, with the aim to influence the vote and policy appears futile for several reasons:
1) There are fewer states with a larger overall proportion of the nations population, necessitating a larger proportional migration.
2) There is less federalism in Australia.
3) The distances are larger.
4) The population is less mobile.
With minimal coercion and discussion it may be possible to decide on one (or more) cities/regions where Libertarians may choose to settle.
If no one chooses to migrate, nothing will have been lost.
If some choose to migrate there are numerous potential advantages; publicity, testing of Libertarian policies on local council, living in a neighbourhood where there are like minded people, and, influencing election results at state and federal level.
Recent election data show that about 2% of the population (approximately 500,000 people) voted Liberal Democrat. If one percent of those people (5,000) changed their migration decision and move to one area for political reasons there will be the possibility of influencing local, state and federal election.
Federal lower house electoral division – 150,000
NSW lower house electoral division – 40,000
Clarence valley local council - 50,000
Methods:
1) Nomination of several cities/regions which would be suitable for the free city project. Consideration should be given to (among other factors) – economic prospects, voting patterns of current populace, access to international markets and general amenity
2) Voting on preferred major (and minor) sites to be by all registered members of the Australian Liberal Democrat party, with determination of a winner or winners.
3) Without any coercive paperwork or signatures, people may choose to migrate to the area, buying or renting property as they choose.
Outcomes:
1) No one moves, nothing happens – this submission gets lost in the depths of the internet
2) Free publicity for a set of ideas.
3) Some people move, nothing happens.
4) Some people move, local council minimises state interference, becomes successful, more people migrate.
5) Area becomes ludicrously successful, movement spreads.
Additional Considerations:
1) Always act according to Australian Law
2) Use existing political and legal system to change the legal and regulatory system to minimise the influence of the State
2a) Some examples to consider:
removal of compulsory bicycle helmet laws
decriminalisation of marijuana
privatisation of garbage collection
zoning of private (possibly gated communities) with responsibility for roads and infrastructure
school vouchers
Contact us at: ausfreecityproject@gmail.com