David, it is really very simple.

The Roman Empire colonised parts of Europe, spreading its language, culture and values in such a way that a number of different but essentially Latin cultures gradually developed. Centuries later, Spain and Portugal expanded this Latin world to the Americas.

The British Empire also colonised many parts of the globe, spreading its language, culture, values and institutions, planting new British cultures and establishing a British world, of which we are a major part.

Like you, I have always been Australian. I have always been a Sydneysider, I have always been a New South Welshman, I have always been Australian, and I have always been British. There is no contradiction between being Australian and being British, just as there is no contradiction between being Brazilian and being Latin.

Now whereas the Latin countries broke with their colonial powers, the British countries chose equality and cooperation. Imperial conferences began in the 1880s, and the 1931 Statute of Westminster formalised the independence of the six dominions: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Ireland and South Africa. With the UK, they formed the British Commonwealth. Of these seven, Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, Ireland became a republic and left the Commonwealth, and South Africa followed in 1961. You call CANZUK “an inner club”, but it is simply the historical British core of the Commonwealth.

Sadly, however, the organisation has been so debased since 1949 that most member countries regard each other as foreigners, while two – India and Pakistan – point nuclear weapons at each other. None of this changes the fact that CANZUK remains fundamentally British in its culture, values and institutions. We simply have no reason to see each other as foreigners.

Like you, I support Australia and its federal structure, but I hope to extend it to include the other British countries. These are the historical ties that I wish to acknowledge and build on.

Ah! if only....

If only South and Central America would recognise their common culture, values and institutions they could be two nations: Brazil and Spanish South America, but ...

If only the Spanish and Portuguese recognised their cultural ties under the Moors and before that the Romans (Hispania.) All of South America could be united under the Federation of Iberian America ... but

If only the Romans hadn't split into Eastern and Western spheres. The could have remained united under their common values and culture. The Russian Empire would be united with the Holy Roman Empire and today we could have the Roman United States wrapping around the world from Alaska to Cape Horn ... but

The British and French empires were inheritors of the Roman legacy also. Africa, India, the Americas and Oceania! United they could have control of 75% of the world population.

How exciting to speculate like this. If only...

David, since you are choosing to be truly obtuse, I will leave you to it.