Unified Royal States of Australis

Unified Royal States of Australis Grand Duchy of Australis Verenig Koninklik Staat van Australis or Groothertogdom van Australis (Afrikaans)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Melior est enim orbis terrarum English: For a better world
Anthem: Glory to Australis
Australissian territories marked in red
Capital and City	New Yera
Official languages	English, Afrikaans
Recognised regional languages	Nyungar
Religion(February 2021)	List Christianity: 55.1% Unsure/Agnostic: 24.1%
Demonym	Australissian
Government	Semi-constitutional Monarchy
• Grand Duke of Australis	HRH Daniel I
• Prime Minister	The Rt. Hon. Rory McPhail
Legislature	Parliament of Australis
• Lower house	House of Commons
Independence from Australia
• Declaration of Independence	8 April 2020 (2020-04-08)
• Duchy Established	28 May 2020 (2020-05-28)
Area
• Total area	3.69724 km2 (1.42751 sq mi)
Population
• April 2021 census	45
Currency	Australian Dollar
Time zone	ACT (UTC+8:00)
Calling code	+61 (de facto)
Internet TLD	.ml (de facto)
Citizenship Application

Australis, officially the Unified Royal States of Australis and the Grand Duchy of Australis, is a self-declared sovereign nation, commonly known as a micronation to external observers. Australis declared independence on 8 April 2020. Australis is primarily located in the southwestern region of Australia. Australis is composed of three states, one crown dependency, and one territory. The capital city of Australis, New Yera, is located in the Australissian state of Amicitia.

Australis is a semi-constitutional monarchy, with its monarch being the Grand Duke of Australis. Currently, the reigning Grand Duke is Daniel I, who ascended to the throne on 28 May 2020. The legislature of Australis is unicameral, with the House of Commons, led by the sixth person to hold the office of Prime Minister, Rory McPhail. In addition, the Privy Council of Australis holds significant power in the nation, with the ability to veto legislation and propose legislation, if granted Royal assent.

Australis frequents high positions on intermicronational rankings of performance. It placed second in the December 2020 Cupertino Member Positivity Survey, earning 114 points. Furthermore, Australis ranks 4.40 on the Categoric-Gradial System of Classification, placing it in the 'Very High' category. On Roscoe's Scale of Micronational Seriousness, Australis scores 3.60, placing it in the 'High' category. In addition, Australis scores 4.60 on Freayth's System of Classification. Australis has held full membership in the Cupertino Alliance and Grand Unified Micronational since July and November 2020, respectively. Australis is a member of the Constantia Pact, a diplomatic pact between several nations connected via the micronational social club The Fun Gang. Due to its participation in the GUM and the CA, in addition to its high rankings and relative influence of its leader, Australis can be described as a micronational power.

Etymology

A 1618 map depicting Australia as Terra Australis Incognita

The name Australis was chosen by Daniel Hamilton. The name Australis is derived from Terra Australis Incognita's historical term, meaning 'Unknown Southern Land'. This name was given to a hypothetical undiscovered continent, that was later found to be Australia. Australis was also chosen to be the name as it fits with the Latin naming scheme that was used in the early history of the nation.

History

Pentarchy Era (April-May 2020)

The Pentarchy Era commenced with the establishment of Australis. On 8 April 2020, the Commonwealth of Australis was established by a group of five people - Daniel Hamilton, Alison Mitchell, Anica Weck, Roberto Flamenco, and Caitlyn Azar. These five people comprised the Pentarchy - an executive and legislative governing body of five equal individuals tasked with running Australis. The week following the founding of Australis saw massive population inflation, with the population almost tripling, reaching 13 citizens by 17 April. On 18 April, Australis created the first version of its MicroWiki page to further its foreign relations. It is also around this time when Australis joined the Organization of Allied Micronations, a now-defunct micronational organization, as a founding member. Australis' membership in this early phase opened gateways and set a standard for future Australissian diplomacy. Within its first month, Australis opened diplomatic partnerships with the now-defunct Republic of Suverska, the Union of Jutar, Commonwealth of Rhodesia and Imperium Aquilae.

During this time, Pentarchy members Roberto Flamenco and Anica Weck resigned, and were replaced by Sinead Hamilton and Carlo Olivier In an election that held many former powerful figures of government such as Jared Balmer and Xavier Martin. Towards the end of April, the Pentarchy held an election to form a separate legislative branch of government. Initially, this legislative branch consisted of five seats. The election had two political parties contesting government - the left-wing Australissian Libertarian-Socialist Party and the right-wing Australissian Liberal Party. The Libertarian Socialist Party, backed by four of the five Pentarchy members, won with an absolute majority vote, with no seats being gained by the Liberal Party. On 6 May, the Australissian Parliament was dissolved and political parties were outlawed by the Pentarchy, to 'maintain the political and social goals of Australis'. The system was replaced by a Governor system, with one person each representing their respective state, appointed by the Pentarchy. This system held similarities to the transitionary eras` meritocratic system.

Also coinciding with this date was the day Australis changed its official name, from the Commonwealth of Australis to the Unified Royal States of Australis, due to the name being easily confused with the Commonwealth of Australia. From 6 to 28 May, Australis was experiencing instability within the government. The Pentarchy was viewed by the citizen base to be failing, as Daniel Hamilton was performing most of the work of developing and running Australis. The other five members at that point participated very little in Australis. In a last-ditch effort to keep the Pentarchy stable and to reignite activity, a vote was passed to make Daniel the Head of the Pentarchy, which in doing so violated the original purpose of the Pentarchy, to have five equal rulers. In addition to this, two high-ranking individuals within Australis, initially gaining power in the April election, were appointed as advisors to the Pentarchy. These were Xavier Joubert (not to be confused with Xavier Martin) and Jared Balmer. Despite the best efforts of the Pentarchy and its advisors, it ultimately collapsed on the 28th of May 2020, after Daniel guaranteed Jared the role of Chancellor, if he helped lobby members of the Pentarchy to vote to dissolve the Pentarchy in a vote. The vote was passed unanimously, due to the other members believing that the nation would operate smoothly under the rule of Daniel Hamilton.

Transitory Era (June-August 2020)

The Transitory Era, also known as the Early-Hamilton Era, was a time of change and growth in Australis, following the transition of Australis from a Pentarchy into a Grand Duchy, the strengthening of foreign relations with the Kingdom of Australand, and the admittance of Australis as a member of the Cupertino Alliance. Following the dissolution of the Pentarchy, Daniel Hamilton ascended to the throne as the first Grand Duke of Australis. At this time, the Australissian Government was relatively undeveloped, with many Pentarchy Era policies and initiatives still in place. To begin changing these old policies, Daniel appointed Jared Balmer, former Prime Minister of Australis and later Advisor to the Pentarchy as the first Chancellor of Australis. The final major change to Government during this era was the de-democratization of Australis, with the Australis Leadership Council becoming a Meritocracy based Government. During August, the State Revitalization Program was established, an initiative intended to promote cultural growth and activity, as well as developing the nation, on the state level, however, this program soon saw inactivity. Also in August, the Department of Immigration and Foreign Affairs launched a trial of paper-based citizenship application forms - this saw a rapid spike in population. The trial was seen as a success, and the program was further developed. However, population was not in direct correlation with activity and little to no new citizens ever participated in the wellbeing of Australis before the wipeout in December 2020.

Influential Era (September-November 2020)

The Influential Era, also known as the Pre-Democratic Era of Australis, is an era that has seen a rapid increase in Australissian influence and popularity. The most notable events that have occurred in this era are the acceptance of Australis into the Grand Unified Micronational, the milestone of six months since Australissian independence, and multiple treaties being signed with significant nations.

In early September, the Australissian autonomous territory of Nullus declared dissolution due to the territory no longer having any dedicated citizens willing to run the territory. Due to this, the territory belonging to Nullus was revoked, returning the territory to the control of Australia. Shortly after this, another territory, situated northeast of Amicitia, was scouted and annexed by the Grand Duke. The territory was originally to be. During September, Australis signed and ratified treaties with the Commonwealth of Naveria, Misberia, United Kingdoms of Greater Monmark and the Kingdom of West Sayville, on the 9th, 10th, 29th, and 30th, respectively. Other notable events that occurred in September included the acceptance of Australis into the League of Independent Nations, the first Parliamentary session being held in Belvoir, Australis, and the introduction of the honorary subject system within Australis.

In October, Australis was an active contributor and supporter of the production of the La Salle Convention, directed by Sertor Valentinus, with Australis being an original signatory to the convention. The convention was ratified by the Australissian Government on 8 October, coinciding with the day commemorating six months since Australissian independence. For the six-month celebrations, the Australis Times released a special article documenting the history of Australis since its establishment. October saw a great expansion of the foreign relations of Australis, with Patrick Kenny, former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Australand, becoming the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and initiating a major reform of the Australissian diplomacy process to stamp out simulationists from Australis. One of the most significant events in October was the acceptance of Australis as a provisional member of the Grand Unified Micronational.

November saw the expansion of Australis into Europe, with the territory of Beacon being annexed in the United Kingdom. Following this, six honorary subjects in the United Kingdom, relatives of the Grand Duke, were accepted into Australis. Shortly afterwards, Australis was upgraded to a full member of the Grand Unified Micronational. Following the resignation of incumbent Chancellor Jared Balmer on 8 November, Patrick Kenny, a government member, was appointed by the Grand Duke. During November under the Kenny Administration, Australis signed a treaty of mutual recognition with the Iceni Federal Republic, and the government was overhauled. This Government overhaul included a cabinet reshuffle, as well as the renaming, creation, and dissolution of departments.

Government and politics

Monarch

HRH Daniel I, the Grand Duke of Australis

The Monarch of Australis is the Grand Duke of Australis. The current Grand Duke is Daniel Hamilton, styled HRH Daniel I. Following the dissolution of the Australissian Pentarchy in May 2020, Daniel ascended to the throne as its founder on 28 May 2020. Until January 2021, he reigned absolute, however agreed to apply limitations to his power in the Early Democratic Era.

The Margrave of Australis is the heir presumptive for the throne of the Grand Duke. The current Margrave is Liam Alexander, Lord-President of the Australissian Privy Council.

Privy Council

The Australissian Privy Council is the highest decision-making body in Australis. While it acts primarily as an advisory body to the Crown, it is also the primary legislative body of Australis. Similar to a Cabinet, several members of the Privy Council hold Secretary positions for several Government departments. Secretaries are equivalent to Ministers in other nations Governments. At present, eight members make up the Privy Council, including His Royal Majesty the Grand Duke of Australis, Daniel I. The Chief of Staff of the Privy Council, Liam I, is responsible for the appointment and dismissal of Secretaries from the members of the Privy Council.

The Privy Council was established on 3 January 2021, following the dissolution of the previous government, the Australissian Legislative Council, following concerns that the nation had become inactive, and that such a change was vital to reviving the nation back to activity.

• 

  Liam I, Margrave of Australis:
  Lord-President of the Privy Council
  
• 

  Lord Patrick, Duke of Integritas:
  Member of the Privy Council
  
• 

  Lord Casper, Duke of Amicitia:
  Member of the Privy Council
  
• 

  Lady Nowell, Countess of Eastern Jarrahview:
  Member of the Privy Council
  
• 

  Lord David, Count of North Constantia:
  Member of the Privy Council
  
• 

  Lord Sertor, Count of New Yera:
  Member of the Privy Council
  
• 

  Lord Andrew, Count of Új Repülő:
  Member of the Privy Council
  

House of Commons

The House of Commons is the legislative body of government in Australis. Elections were last held on 23 January 2021, however, several by-elections have since occurred to fill various vacancies and new seats. The House has seven seats, of which two are currently vacant.

The House consists of a majority held by a coalition of two MPs for the Australissian Loyalist Front, one MP for the Liberal Democratic Party, and one Independent MP. The Opposition consists of one MP for the Conservative Party.

• Nophoto.png

  Hon. Rory McPhail MP:
  Prime Minister
  Chair of the Committee on Judiciary
  Chair of the Committee on House Administration
  
• 

  Hon. Matt G MP:
  Speaker of the House
  Chair of the Committee on Armed Services
  
• Nophoto.png

  Hon. Cristian Dobrev MP:
  Chair of the Committee on Ethics
  
• 

  Hon. James Bornstein MP:
  Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  
• 

  Hon. Isaiah Burdette MP:
  Chair of the Committee on Rules
  

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign Relations of Australis

Australis maintains an open foreign policy. The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for making decisions on foreign policy and forming mutual recognition and relations with other nations. The earliest organization that Australis was involved in was the Organization of Allied Micronations, which later was disbanded. Today, Australis is a member of multiple organizations, some of the most notable being the Cupertino Alliance and the Grand Unified Micronational. Australis applied to become a member of the Cupertino Alliance on 8 July 2020. Shortly after the application was received, on 15 July 2020, Australis became a full member state of the Cupertino Alliance. From early February to late April 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs was closed as a result of a lack of a suitable treaty template for signing treaties of mutual recognition. As a result, no official diplomacy was conducted during this time, except for participation in micronational organisations. This period ended with tbe naming of Daniel Hamilton as Chief Ambassador of Australis, and a subsequent total redesign of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in which it was renamed to the Department of Immigration and Foreign Affairs (DIFA). In addition, a new template for treaties was created. The first treaty to be ratified under the new system was with the Co-operative Republic of Wendatia, on 31 May 2021.

Flag	Name	Treaty Ratified
Bilateral Recognition
	Republic of Suverska	18 April 2020
	Imperium Aquilae	5 May 2020
	Commonwealth of Rhodesia	9 May 2020
	Kingdom of Australand	16 June 2020
	State of Vishwamitra	26 August 2020
	Kingdom of Ebenthal	3 September 2020
	Commonwealth of Naveria	9 September 2020
	Monmarkian Empire	29 September 2020
	Kingdom of West Sayville	30 September 2020
	Confederate States of America	11 October 2020
	State of Iceni	17 November 2020
	Kingdom of Ikonia	9 December 2020
	Kingdom of Atiera	4 January 2021
	Commonwealth of Essexia	21 January 2021
	Snagovian Federal Republic	28 January 2021
	Co-operative Republic of Wendatia	31 May 2021
	Kingdom of Northwood-Oregon	17 June 2021

Participation in intermicronational organisations

Name	Logo	Status	Date	Notes
Cupertino Alliance		Full membership	15 July 2020	See Australis and the Cupertino Alliance
Constantia Pact		Full membership	23 October 2020	Founding member
Grand Unified Micronational		Full membership	4 November 2020	See Australis and the GUM

Ratification of intermicronational treaties

Name	Date ratified	Notes
Wrythe Convention	16 May 2020
Edgbaston Convention	24 September 2020
La Salle Convention	8 October 2020	Original signatory
Montediszamble Convention	23 November 2020
Sough2020 Convention on Global Climate Change	N/A	Participated in talks, never ratified

Geography

Australis is primarily situated on the Swan Coastal Plain, a relatively infertile, sandy lain on the western coast of Western Australia, to the west of the the west of the Darling Scarp, a steep escarpment once forming the shoreline of Western Australia during the last ice age. The land on which Australis stands was once roamed by the Whadjuk and Wardandi tribes for tens of thousands of years before the European colonisation of Western Australia.

Climate

In the Western Australian territories of Australis, Australis experiences two different Köppen climate types. In the northern regions of Australis, nearby to the city of Perth, Western Australia, a Csa (hot-summer Mediterranean) climate is experienced. However, in Australis Town and North Constantia, a Csb (warm-summer Mediterranean) climate is experienced. On average, the northern regions experience 868mm (34in) of rain per year.

Climate data for Amicitia, Australis
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	45.8 (114.4)	46.7 (116.1)	42.4 (108.3)	39.5 (103.1)	34.3 (93.7)	28.1 (82.6)	26.3 (79.3)	30.0 (86)	34.2 (93.6)	37.3 (99.1)	40.4 (104.7)	44.2 (111.6)	46.7 (116.1)
Average high °C (°F)	31.2 (88.2)	31.6 (88.9)	29.6 (85.3)	25.9 (78.6)	22.3 (72.1)	19.5 (67.1)	18.4 (65.1)	19.1 (66.4)	20.4 (68.7)	23.4 (74.1)	26.8 (80.2)	29.3 (84.7)	24.8 (76.6)
Average low °C (°F)	18.1 (64.6)	18.4 (65.1)	16.8 (62.2)	13.8 (56.8)	10.4 (50.7)	8.6 (47.5)	7.9 (46.2)	8.3 (46.9)	9.5 (49.1)	11.6 (52.9)	14.4 (57.9)	16.4 (61.5)	12.8 (55)
Record low °C (°F)	8.9 (48)	8.7 (47.7)	6.3 (43.3)	4.1 (39.4)	1.3 (34.3)	−0.7 (30.7)	0.0 (32)	1.3 (34.3)	1.0 (33.8)	2.2 (36)	5.0 (41)	6.6 (43.9)	-0.7 (30.7)
Average Rainfall mm (inches)	19.1 (0.752)	13.4 (0.528)	19.7 (0.776)	35.2 (1.386)	87.7 (3.453)	127.3 (5.012)	144.5 (5.689)	125.5 (4.941)	82.8 (3.26)	38.8 (1.528)	21.7 (0.854)	10.9 (0.429)	733.2 (28.866)
Average precipitation days	2.9	2.3	4.5	6.8	11.2	14.5	17.2	15.9	14.6	9.2	5.5	3.5	108.1
Sunshine hours	356.5	319.0	297.6	249.0	207.0	177.0	189.1	223.2	231.0	297.6	318.0	356.5	3,221.5
Source: Bureau of Meteorology Temperatures: 1993–2020; Extremes: 1897–2020; Rain data: 1993–2020; Relative humidity: 1994–2011

Regions

Australis is composed of three states, one Crown dependency, and 1 territory. States are claimed areas of Australis that have a significant population.

Demographics

All national demographics are operated by Statistic-Dime, a government-owned company, widely regarded as the most influential and successful statistical organisation in the community. While no census has ever officially occurred in Australis, citizenship applications serve to collect statistical and demographical information on citizens.

Population

In April 2020, the month when Australis was founded, the nation recorded its largest-ever population gain, growing from 0 to 28 by the end of the month. The population continued to climb until May 2020 when population growth began to slow down. By the end of December 2020, the nation had reached over 70 citizens, however, the population decreased rapidly as a result of a 'citizenship purge', requiring all citizens to renew their citizenship to remain citizens of Australis, which received a relatively poor turnout, bringing the population down to 17. However, the population began to climb again, sitting at 33 citizens as of February 2021.

Population
Year	Pop.	±%
April 2020	28	—
May 2020	46	+64.3%
June 2020	46	+0.0%
July 2020	53	+15.2%
August 2020	61	+15.1%
September 2020	62	+1.6%
October 2020	69	+11.3%
November 2020	65	−5.8%
December 2020	17	−73.8%
January 2021	28	+64.7%
February 2021	38	+35.7%
March 2021	42	+10.5%
April 2021	45	+7.1%
Information taken from end of each month.

Nationalities

Macronations of residence for Australissian citizens

Position	Nation	Number of Citizens
1	Australia	11 (33.33%)
2	United States	11 (33.33%)
3	United Kingdom	5 (15.15%)
4	Bangladesh	1 (3.03%)
5	Canada	1 (3.03%)
6	Czech Republic	1 (3.03%)
7	France	1 (3.03%)
8	India	1 (3.03%)
9	Romania	1 (3.03%)

Intermicronational rankings

• CGSC: ▲ 4.40 Very High (2021)
• Roscoe's Scale of Micronational Seriousness ▼ 3.60 High (2021)
• Freayth's System of Classification: ▬ 4.6 High (2021)
• Boodlesmythe-Tallini System of Classification: ▬ 5th World High (2021)

Culture

Australis has a semi-constructed culture. The languages of the nation were taken from the primary languages spoken by the founders of Australis, and several other cultural features, such as national dishes and national plants, were brought over from the culture of Western Australia.

Languages

According to a survey conducted in October 2020, an estimated 24% of citizens are capable of speaking fluent Afrikaans, while 100% of citizens are capable of speaking English fluently. Both languages are designated as official languages, however, English is the dominant, preferred language throughout the nation. In addition, to preserve native Australian culture, Nyungar, a native language spoken by Aboriginal Australians in the Southwestern region of Australia was designated as a recognised regional language, despite there currently being no native speakers of the language within Australis.

National symbols

The national animals of Australis are the Western Grey Kangaroo and the Numbat. These animals are endemic to the Australian continent and widespread throughout Australis.

One of the national animals of Australis, the Eastern Grey Kangaroo.

The Numbat is also one of the national animals of Australis.

The national plant of Australis, like the national plant of Western Australia is the Kangaroo Paw. It is endemic to South-Western Australia. Kangaroo Paw typically flowers in Spring and Summer (September-February).

News and media

All Australissian media is state-run. The primary source of news within the nation is the Australis Times, founded in April 2020, which released articles on happenings within Australis periodically, but now also covers general micronational news. During October 2020, the Australis Times was accepted as an accredited publication on both MicroWiki and MicroWiki@Discord. News and media within Australis are also posted on YouTube, via the state-run YouTube channel, URS Australis.

Hexium Calendar

In addition to using the Gregorian calendar, Australis utilises its own calendar, Hexium. In the Hexium system, the standard 365 day year is split into six months, based on Gregorian months. Hexium is a secondary calendar system, with Gregorian being the standard system within Australis, however, Hexium is an acceptable format in Australissian documents and other information.

Hexium	Gregorian
Unum	January-February
Dium	March-April
Trium	May-June
Quartum	July-August
Pentum	September-October
Hexium	November-December