Principality of Hutt River

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 28°4′28″S 114°28′14.5″E / 28.07444°S 114.470694°E / -28.07444; 114.470694

Principality of Hutt River
Micronation
Flag	Seal
Motto: Dum Spiro Spero (English: While I Breathe, I Hope) Anthem: It's a Hard Landby Keith Kerwin
Status	Current
Area claimed	75 km2
Membership	Approx. 20 residents, 13,000 passport holders
Date of foundation	April 21, 1970
Leadership	Prince Leonard I (Leonard George Casley)
Organisational structure	Principality
Language	English
Purported currency	Hutt River Dollar
Capital	Nain
Time Zone	UTC+8

The Principality of Hutt River, previously known as Hutt River Province, is Australia's oldest micronation. The principality has claimed to be an independent sovereign state since its foundation but it is not recognized by the Commonwealth of Australia or any other international entity. ^[1]

The principality is located on a large farming property 517 km north of Perth, near the town of Northampton.

The principality was founded on April 21, 1970 by Leonard George Casley (born August 28, 1925),^[2] when he and his associates proclaimed their secession from the state of Western Australia. Casley now styles himself "His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I".

Contents 1 History 2 Currency 2.1 First series: 1976 - 1978 2.2 Silver Jubilee $1 coin 2.3 Later series 3 Statistics 4 Government 5 Royal Family 6 Legality 7 Recent events 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History

The province was created in 1969 in response to a dispute with the government of Western Australia over what the Casley family saw as draconian wheat production quotas. The Casley farm had around 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of wheat ready to harvest when the quotas were issued which allowed Casley to sell only 1647 bushels or approximately 40 hectares (99 acres).^[3] Initially the five families who owned farms in Hutt River banded together to fight the quota but when the government threatened to "resume" their rural lands under compulsory acquisition, Casley and his associates resorted to a British law (the Treason Act 1495) which they felt allowed them to secede and declare their independence from the Commonwealth of Australia. Casley states that he nonetheless remains loyal to Queen Elizabeth II. Casley was elected administrator of the new "sovereign state" by his family.

The government of Western Australia determined they could do nothing without the intervention of the Commonwealth. The Governor-General of Australia, Sir Paul Hasluck, later stated that it was unconstitutional for the Commonwealth to intervene in the secession.^[3] In correspondence with the Governor-General's office, Casley was inadvertently addressed as the "Administrator of the Hutt River Province" which, under the application of Royal Prerogative, makes this recognition binding on all courts.^[3] After the government threatened him with prosecution Casley styled himself His Royal Highness Prince Leonard of Hutt to take advantage of a Commonwealth law that a monarch could not only not be charged but that anyone who interfered with his duties could be charged with treason. Although the law in this area has since changed, the Australian government has not taken any action against Hutt River since the declaration. Under Australian law the government had two years to respond to Casley's declaration, the failure to respond gave the province de facto legal status on April 21, 1972.^[4]

In 1976 Australia Post refused to handle Hutt River mail forcing mail to be redirected via Canada. Following repeated demands by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for the payment of taxes, on December 2, 1977, the province officially declared war on Australia. Prince Leonard notified authorities of the cessation of hostilities several days later.^[4] The mail service was restored, and tax requests ceased. Hutt River citizens are now classed by the ATO as non-residents of Australia for income tax purposes, thus income earned within the province is exempt from Australian taxation. The province levies its own income tax of 0.5% on financial transactions by foreign companies registered in the province and personal accounts.

While the principality does not pay taxes, the Australian government's current official position is that it is nothing more than a private enterprise operating under a business name.^[5]

In the early 1980s Hutt River Province declared itself to be a kingdom, but soon after reverted to its original status of a principality. The principality proceeded to release a number of its own stamps and coins.

In September 2006 Prince Leonard decided to change the name to "Principality of Hutt River" and dropping the word "Province".^[6]

[edit] Currency

The first Hutt River coins were not issued until 1976. The currency of the Hutt River Province Principality is the Hutt River Dollar, which is divided into 100 cents. The Hutt River Dollar is tied at a one-to-one ratio with the Australian dollar.

[edit] First series: 1976 - 1978

There were four denominations: 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c. These were issued between 1976 and 1978, but the 1978 issue was a proof only issue. There was also a silver $30 coin and a gold $100 coin, struck only in proof.

First Series
Value	Technical parameters		Description			Date of first minting
	Diameter	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
5c	16.5 mm	Aluminium	Plain	Prince Leonard	Coat of arms	1976
10c	19.1 mm	Copper
20c	22.4 mm	Brass
50c	24.9 mm	Cupronickel
$30	38.1 mm	999‰ silver	Reeded
$100	25 mm	24 carat gold	Plain
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

[edit] Silver Jubilee $1 coin

In 1977 $1 coins were struck to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. These coins are known as 'Holey dollars', a nickname that is applied to the extremely rare New South Wales 5/- coin and the Prince Edward Island 5/- coin, which were cut and counterstamped from Spanish-American Pieces of Eight (8 Reales).

Coins of the same design were struck again in 1978, without the inscription "QUEEN'S JUBILEE".

[edit] Later series

Most of the coins of later series have specific commemorative topics and are usually made of precious metal. The issuance of coins went on until 2000, and resumed with new issues beginning in 2007.

[edit] Statistics

The Principality of Hutt River is situated 517 km north of Perth along the Hutt River. It is about 75 km² (approximately 18,500 acres) in size. Exports include wildflowers, agricultural produce, stamps and coins, while tourism is also important to its economy.^[7]

Although actual residents are very few, the principality claims a world-wide citizenry of 13,000.^[5]

It has no standing army, but a number of its citizens have been awarded military commissions, honorary guardsmen attend the prince on formal occasions and, despite being completely landlocked, it apparently possesses a navy - at least naval commissions have been conferred on supporters of the principality.

It is governed by its founder Prince Leonard and his family, including his wife Princess Shirley and their son and heir, Crown Prince Ian.

Since September 2, 2004, Hutt River Province Principality has had the authority to accept company registrations. At least one company experienced in the registration of entities in traditional offshore jurisdictions (British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands etc.) as tax havens has been authorised to act as a registered agent for HRP incorporations.^[5] A variety of licenses are also available. No Australian resident is allowed to take advantage of this legislation.

Hutt River also allows car registrations, including issuing of license plates to overseas vehicles.

The principality has only one settlement, called Nain which is named after Nain in Galilee which has a similar landscape and building layout.

[edit] Government

When the Principality of Hutt River seceded, a Bill of Rights was drafted. This Bill of Rights was, as the name suggests, a brief document outlining the rights of "Hutt River" citizens. It also provided for an Administration Board to govern over the principality until a permanent form of government could be established. When Casley declared himself Prince, the Administration Board clause lost effect, and the Hutt River Principality became a benevolent absolute monarchy with a Legislation Committee to draft new legislation. In 1997, the Legislation Committee finished a proposal for a constitution and presented it to the prince and his cabinet. Although the prince and cabinet are still yet to officially adopt and promulgate the proposal, it is not without effect as there is a decree stating that any constitution will be in effect while still under consideration except for clauses that conflict with the Bill of Rights. To this end, the proposal remains in effect as a sort of provisional constitution.^[5]

[edit] Royal Family

Prince Leonard is the name and title that has been used by Leonard George Casley and his supporters since his creation of the Hutt River Principality. Prince Leonard pursued a number of occupations before purchasing a large wheat farm near Geraldton, Western Australia in the 1960s. A former mathematician and physicist who worked for NASA in the 1950s, he has a star named in his honour.^[7]

Despite his advancing years the Prince is known as a keen-minded "bush lawyer". He is also an adherent of hermeticism, a subject on which he has privately published a number of research papers. Casley is married to "Her Serene Highness Princess Shirley" (née Shirley Butler), by whom he has seven adult children, among them "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Ian" (Ian George Casley, born 1947), who has been designated as his eventual successor as "Sovereign Prince".

Some Australians view "Prince Leonard" affectionately as a harmless eccentric and view his tenacity in taking on "big government" with wry amusement, while others believe him to be looking for a fight where none exists. He is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Australia, in Canberra.^[8]

[edit] Legality

In a statement by the Australian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Jeremy Bruer, upon hearing that an office purporting to represent the “Hutt River Province” was operating in Dubai and allegedly selling travel documents. The Ambassador stated that the Australian Government did not recognise the "Hutt River Province", legally or in any other way.^[1]

It was further stated that: "The area of land which is described as the "Hutt River Province" is a privately-owned wheat-growing property on the Hutt River, north of Geraldton in the State of Western Australia. It has no special status. It has no separate sovereignty and remains subject to the Australian Constitution and the laws of Australia."^[1]

Regarding the use of titles, the ambassador said that: "The Australian Government does not recognise the "royal titles" nor titles of office, such as "Head of State", "State minister" and "Minister for Foreign Affairs" assumed by the family owning the property nor the use of terms such as "consulates" and "principality" in relation to the "Hutt River Province"."^[1]

However, the Hutt River Province is an independant entity within the Australian legal system as the Commonwealth has no right to dispute the de facto legality it was given in error by the Governor Generals office^[3] and it’s own failure to respond to the claim.^[4] To overturn this de facto recognition, the Governor General of Western Australia would have to submit the secession to arbitration which has not been done.

Although passports issued by the "Hutt River Province" are not legally recognised by the Australian Government,^[1] they have been accepted on a case-by-case basis for overseas travel.^[7]

[edit] Recent events

To celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of the Prince and Princess, HRP released new coins to celebrate the event. This was the first new coinage minted since 2000. There were a number of awards given at the event. European Television crews visited the Principality to film the celebrations and formalities, held Easter 2007.

[edit] See also

• Proposals for new Australian States
• Secessionism in Western Australia

[edit] References

• "Mini-states Down Under are sure they can secede", by Nick Squires, The Daily Telegraph (UK), February 24, 2005.
• "If at first you don't secede…", by Mark Dapin, The Sydney Morning Herald — Good Weekend, February 12, 2005, pp 47–50
• "Unusual World Coins", by Colin R Bruce, Krause Publications, 2005, ISBN 0-87349-793-7, p240

[edit] External links

PHR

• PHR website
• Permanent Representative of the PHR Berlin-Germany
• PHR website/Charge D'Affaires for New England
• HRP US Representative Office website (Updated 2007)
• Hut River Principality, Cabinet Magazine

Australian Government

• Australian Taxation Office's viewpoint on HRP's business

Other

• Time Magazine article/1975
• ABC TV transcript/2003

v • d • e Micronations List of micronations • Flags of micronations • Coats of arms of micronations • List of micronation currencies • List of anthems of micronations