States are certainly the worst structure of Government, except for the alternatives. Centralisation is the bane of good government, you get professional pollie types and parasites congregating in a like minded pool, the noise of which drowns out all reality. At least States offer a counter balance to the fads and fashions of those who would rule (and really know what is good for you). Much the same as the Barons at Runnymede.

One of the great proofs in life is that ANY monopoly, including one of power, is an abuse.

Also Australia does have a geography where urban centres are surrounded by vast hinterlands (and the Tweed in not disproof).

The worst outcome for Australia is for Australia to incorporate poverty stricken, third world island states into the Commonwealth of Australia. It would mean that people from these islands would have an absolute right to immigrate into Australia and that the Australian taxpayer would have an obligation to support these povety stricken states.

Australia is already giving Indonesia around $500 million dollars a year so that the Indos can spit in our faces and cause social problems ion Austalia by flooding Australia with country shopping illegal immigrants. We give another 200 million p.a. to Vanuatu, 500 million p.a. to PNG, and another 200 million to East Timor. We can't afford any more generosity.

In addition, Pacific Islander people are noted in Australia for their very high rates of violent criminal behaviour, welfare dependency and obesity. As a general rule, people from this particular ethnicity make poor citizens and will probably be a burden on our society forever. It is not in our interests for this problem to grow in our society through unrestricted immigration.

One presumes that the author is just another humanitarian who wants the European countries to always be our brother's keeper. Sorry mate. With European cpountries increasingly bankrupt from hordes of often imported welfare recipients us productive people are saying that enough is enough.

It is funny how this author presents his case as being of economic benefit to Australia. Sure it is. His article is a Trojan Horse for his fundamentalist humanitarian agenda.

Heck, why be concerned about convincing voters of the need for a union with the south Pacific? All you have to do is sneak it in the backdoor under the guise of our climate responsibilities. Remember that multi-billion dollar campaign that was telling us CO2 was responsible for all the woes of the developing world --well it's having the intended affect.

We are beginning to see claims for asylum based on climate changes (see below). My guess is that if it doesn't get through this round it will only be a matter of time before some activist judges run with it--we have a lot to thank the AGW lobby for, ay!

"WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A man from one of the lowest-lying nations on Earth is trying to convince New Zealand judges that he's a refugee — suffering not from persecution, but from climate change.The 37-year-old and his wife left his remote atoll in the Pacific nation of Kiribati six years ago for higher ground and better prospects in New Zealand, where their three children were born. Immigration authorities have twice rejected his argument that rising sea levels make it too dangerous for him and his family to return to Kiribati.So on Oct. 16, the man's lawyer, Michael Kidd, plans to argue the case before New Zealand's High Court. Kidd, who specializes in human rights cases, told The Associated Press he will appeal the case all the way to the country's Supreme Court if necessary."
http://news.yahoo.com/climate-refugee-fighting-stay-zealand-081320424.html

This idea has some merit, and would serve to keep these states from falling into the hands of nations like communist china, or an expansionist Russia.
Or, as failed nation states, Islamic extremists!
These tiny nations have little or no industry, but with our modest help, and the odd cheaper than coal thorium reactor, could be set up to manufacture all our textiles and footwear, utilizing locally available raw materials, in an expanded two way trade.
A fish farm the size of Eagle Farm's runway, i.e., would generate as much income as 10,000 acres of sustenance grazing, and a even more modest fodder factory, will produce as much animal graze, as thirty acres of farmland!
This two way trade would also have a much smaller carbon footprint than what is current!
Jobs and education will limit criminality, to the median Australian average or below.
Traditional diets, will limit obesity, a problem which seems to accompany western style diets and sugary drinks?
More gardens, breadfruit, paw paw, mangoes, kumra and yams?
However, before we start seriously inculcating these ideas, we need to roll out a number of free trade agreements within our region. China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and Korea, for starters.
We may be a rich and well resourced nation, but the way we are running up debt, it may be argued, we are cash poor.
Before we can be of much use to our much smaller neighbors, this situation needs to be addressed, preferably, by selling more to the rest of the world, than we currently buy from it!
And for that outcome to fully manifest, we need to once again supply cheap energy, low cost venture capital and impose very low taxes!
All very doable!
Rhrosty.

Everald,

An excellent idea that should be receiving wider discussion.

The Regions idea would be an acceptable way to go whilst giving a greater and more equal democracy to us all .

As not in Tasmania v NSW each with 12 Senators but NSW has 10 times the number of Electors.

The argument that we would be 'flooded' with economic Island Refugees is rubbish.

We would all be one People and the 'flood' would work both ways and should quickly be evened out in People and Prosperity for all.

The greatest Rugby Team on Earth.. Yes... but why bother with the others . Think of the REGIONAL Competition 5x Aust,5 x NZ plus Samoa, Tonga ,Fiji and one from Vanuatu when they eventually part ways with France !

Nice to see the trolls have not disappointed....
Regional governments sound great for people who live in the east coast capital cities and for no one else. Pacifica the country has merit it is going to be too hard to come up with a solution to the east coast problem Australia has. Australian politics is dominated by the concerns of the people who choose to live in the feed lots that are the western suburbs of our East coast capital cities.

If the senate actual function how it was supposed to then the idea would have more legs.