Sir Henry Parkes' mishandling of the attempted assassination of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1868 and his allegations of a vast Irish conspiracy set back his own political career. Imagine if he had not done been so foolish; the resultant alternate history could read something like this:
1870 - Earl Granville, the British Colonial Secretary, agrees to accept the proposal of Henry Parkes for the calling of a Federal Council of Australasia. Five Australian colonies and New Zealand agree to send delegates.
1871 - 1st Federal Council of Australasia. Discussion of trade, immigration, quarantine, telecommunications and transport. Agreements are made on standardisation of technology between all governments, the idea of a common trade policy and cooperation to prevent Chinese migrants. Most noteworthy attendees are William Fox (NZ), Henry Parkes (NSW) and Sir James McCulloch (Vic).
1873 - 2nd Federal Council of Australasia is held. It drafts a petition to the Imperial Parliament to establish a permanent Federal Council, with Fox and Parkes being the driving forces behind the move.
1875 -The Imperial Parliament passes the Australasian Federal Council Act, making the consultative and cooperative body a permanent institution overseeing the British territories in the South Seas.
1879 -With growing fear of French, German and Russian incursions, the Australasian Federal Council agrees to establish a Constitutional Conference to determine if agreement can be reached between the colonies on a future national government.
1882 -The Commonwealth of AUSTRALASIA is formed, consisting of New South Wales, Victoria, New Ulster, New Munster, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. The first Prime Minister of the new nation is James (later Sir James) Service. Fiji is designated as an unincorporated colony.
1883 -Responding to French advances, Australasia claims the eastern half of New Guinea and begins to develop its armed forces.
1886 -Cocos Islands are claimed. John Cox Bray becomes the 2nd Prime Minister of Australia.
1887 -Australasia claims the New Hebrides, sparking diplomatic disagreement with France. Western Australia is admitted as the seventh state.
1888 -Australasia is recognised, along with Canada, as a Dominion of the British Empire.
The Wikipedia for the nation would read something like this:
AUSTRALASIA, officially the COMMONWEALTH REPUBLIC OF AUSTRALASIA, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, Tasmania, New Zealand, the eastern half of New Guinea, the Australian Antarctic Territory and most neighbouring islands of the Pacific. It is the second largest country in the world by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia and New Caledonia.
AUSTRALASIA was first settled in 1788 by Britain and, as its population expanded and the continent was explored, self-governing crown colonies emerged. In 1882, a number of these colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australasia under Prime Minister James Service. Seven founding states were admitted (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, New Ulster, New Munster, Tasmania and South Australia); the other States were admitted as follows:
STATES OF AUSTRALASIA (after federation) Year Admitted
Western Australia 1887
North Queensland 1897
Fiji 1955
New Guinea 1956
Solomon Islands 1959
New Hebrides 1965
Since Federation, AUSTRALASIA has maintained a stable liberal democratic system as a federal parliamentary democracy. The nation became a constitutional republic in 1996, having completely severed constitutional ties with the British Parliament under the Australasia Acts of 1967. The federation comprises thirteen states and several dependencies and territories, including the Australasian Capital Territory, home of the national capital, Canberra (founded 1890). The population of 39.8 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated along the so-called “Meridian Strip”, the eastern coasts of Australia and New Guinea.
AUSTRALASIA is a highly developed and wealthy country, with the world’s 11th largest economy, the 6th highest per capita income and the highest HDI ranking. Australasian military expenditure is the 12th largest in the world and the nation ranks highly in terms of quality of life, education and civil rights.
1870 - Earl Granville, the British Colonial Secretary, agrees to accept the proposal of Henry Parkes for the calling of a Federal Council of Australasia. Five Australian colonies and New Zealand agree to send delegates.
1871 - 1st Federal Council of Australasia. Discussion of trade, immigration, quarantine, telecommunications and transport. Agreements are made on standardisation of technology between all governments, the idea of a common trade policy and cooperation to prevent Chinese migrants. Most noteworthy attendees are William Fox (NZ), Henry Parkes (NSW) and Sir James McCulloch (Vic).
1873 - 2nd Federal Council of Australasia is held. It drafts a petition to the Imperial Parliament to establish a permanent Federal Council, with Fox and Parkes being the driving forces behind the move.
1875 -The Imperial Parliament passes the Australasian Federal Council Act, making the consultative and cooperative body a permanent institution overseeing the British territories in the South Seas.
1879 -With growing fear of French, German and Russian incursions, the Australasian Federal Council agrees to establish a Constitutional Conference to determine if agreement can be reached between the colonies on a future national government.
1882 -The Commonwealth of AUSTRALASIA is formed, consisting of New South Wales, Victoria, New Ulster, New Munster, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. The first Prime Minister of the new nation is James (later Sir James) Service. Fiji is designated as an unincorporated colony.
1883 -Responding to French advances, Australasia claims the eastern half of New Guinea and begins to develop its armed forces.
1886 -Cocos Islands are claimed. John Cox Bray becomes the 2nd Prime Minister of Australia.
1887 -Australasia claims the New Hebrides, sparking diplomatic disagreement with France. Western Australia is admitted as the seventh state.
1888 -Australasia is recognised, along with Canada, as a Dominion of the British Empire.
The Wikipedia for the nation would read something like this:
AUSTRALASIA, officially the COMMONWEALTH REPUBLIC OF AUSTRALASIA, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, Tasmania, New Zealand, the eastern half of New Guinea, the Australian Antarctic Territory and most neighbouring islands of the Pacific. It is the second largest country in the world by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia and New Caledonia.
AUSTRALASIA was first settled in 1788 by Britain and, as its population expanded and the continent was explored, self-governing crown colonies emerged. In 1882, a number of these colonies federated, forming the Commonwealth of Australasia under Prime Minister James Service. Seven founding states were admitted (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, New Ulster, New Munster, Tasmania and South Australia); the other States were admitted as follows:
STATES OF AUSTRALASIA (after federation) Year Admitted
Western Australia 1887
North Queensland 1897
Fiji 1955
New Guinea 1956
Solomon Islands 1959
New Hebrides 1965
Since Federation, AUSTRALASIA has maintained a stable liberal democratic system as a federal parliamentary democracy. The nation became a constitutional republic in 1996, having completely severed constitutional ties with the British Parliament under the Australasia Acts of 1967. The federation comprises thirteen states and several dependencies and territories, including the Australasian Capital Territory, home of the national capital, Canberra (founded 1890). The population of 39.8 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated along the so-called “Meridian Strip”, the eastern coasts of Australia and New Guinea.
AUSTRALASIA is a highly developed and wealthy country, with the world’s 11th largest economy, the 6th highest per capita income and the highest HDI ranking. Australasian military expenditure is the 12th largest in the world and the nation ranks highly in terms of quality of life, education and civil rights.
