Editing Micronation (section)

=== Initial developments in Australia: 1970–1981 ===
[[file:HRP3.jpg|thumb|left|Entrance to the [[Principality of Hutt River]] (formerly Hutt River Province), a micronation founded in Australia]]

Australia has a disproportionate number of micronations compared to other countries.<ref name="Trigger"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/23/raising-the-drawbridge-why-are-so-many-australians-creating-their-own-countries|last1=Hobbs|first1=Harry|last2=Williams|first2=George|date=23 October 2022b|title=Raising the drawbridge: why are so many Australians creating their own countries?|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The first micronation founded within Australia was the [[Principality of Hutt River]] in 1970. It was declared independent by farmer [[Leonard Casley]] over a dispute concerning wheat [[production quotas]].<ref name="Casley">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/leonard-casley-obituary-tvn6h5l0g|date=5 March 2019|title=Leonard Casley obituary|work=[[The Times]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2017, the [[Supreme Court of Western Australia]] ordered that Casley pay $2.7 million in unpaid tax, and that his son Arthur Casley pay $242,000 in unpaid tax.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Neuweiler|first1=Sebastian|last2=Menagh|first2=Joanna|date=16 June 2017|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-16/hutt-river-province-decision-on-ato-fight/8624450|title=Australia's oldest micro-nation founders ordered to pay $3m tax bill|work=ABC News}}</ref> Casley abdicated in 2017 in favour of his son [[Graeme Casley|Graeme]].<ref name="Casley"/> Leonard died in 2019, and Hutt River dissolved the following year amidst continued disputes with the [[Australian Taxation Office]] as well as the [[Financial market impact of the COVID-19 pandemic|financial impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Ronan|date=10 August 2020|title=Australia's oldest micronation, Hutt River is no more thanks to Covid-19|work=[[CNN]]|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/australia-micronation-hutt-river-principality/index.html}}</ref> In 1976, the [[Province of Bumbunga]] was declared by Alec Brackstone in response to the [[1975 Australian constitutional crisis]]. Brackstone, an ardent British monarchist, became alarmed by what he saw as a drift away from the Australian system of [[constitutional monarchy]] toward outright [[republicanism]]. Thus, to ensure that at least one portion of Australia would remain loyal to the [[British Crown]], Bumbunga was declared.{{sfn|Ryan|Dunford|Sellars|2006|p=144}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bumbunga-governor-alec-brackstones-relentless-will-to-secede/news-story/d743e96aaf5cb71cfc28b26bf7a30a6d|last=Cook|first=Craig|date=30 June 2018|title=Bumbunga Governor Alec Brackstone's relentless will to secede|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]}}</ref>

The [[Sovereign State of Aeterna Lucina]] was proclaimed in 1978 by German migrant Paul Neuman. Aeterna Lucina came to public attention in 1990 when Neuman faced fraud charges in the [[New South Wales]] court system relating to land sale offences; the case was abandoned in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Malcom|url=|title=Clouds cleared on baron's reign|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=24 June 1992|page=10|via=the SMH Archives}}</ref> In 1979, the [[Independent State of Rainbow Creek]] was declared by Thomas Barnes in protest of alleged incompetence by the [[Government of Victoria]] in regards to the flooding of his and others' properties.{{sfn|Hobbs|Williams|2021b|p=97}} He was inspired by Hutt River.{{sfn|Ryan|Dunford|Sellars|2006|p=145}} The [[Grand Duchy of Avram]] was established in [[Tasmania]] in the early 1980s by politician [[John Charlton Rudge]], and issues its own banknotes.<ref name="Trigger">{{cite news|last=Trigger|first=Rebecca|date=10 February 2017|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/meet-the-micro-nations-of-australia/8252020|title=Micro-nations: Meet the tiny states who've said 'see ya later' to the Commonwealth|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]}}</ref> In recognition of his status, Rudge legally changed his name to John the Duke of Avram.{{sfn|Hobbs|Williams|2022|p=24–25}} In 1981, the [[Empire of Atlantium]] was founded in [[Sydney]] as a non-territorial global government based on the ideals of [[secularism]], [[progressivism]] and [[liberalism]]. Among the causes Atlantium supports are the right to unrestricted international [[freedom of movement]], the right to [[abortion]], and the right to [[assisted suicide]].{{sfn|Ryan|Dunford|Sellars|2006|p=74}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/micronations/3039654|last=Gilbert|first=Ewan|date=17 October 2015|title=Empire of Atlantium: Take a glimpse into Australia's smallest micronation|work=ABC News}}</ref>