Australasia

Wellington (Regional, New Zealand)

(Conservative Party Equivalent)

Economic Nationalism

Anti-Communism

**Australasia**, officially **The Confederation of Australasia**, is a country in Oceania. It is one of the Commonwealth nations, with George V as its Head of State. Originally part of the British Empire, its two segments, Australia and New Zealand, gained autonomy in January 1901 and September 1907 respectively. Both acted as separate autonomous nations until January 1927, when it was decreed that the two nations would merge into one Confederacy with regional governments in both areas. It was decided that Sydney would serve as the official capital of the Confederation, with regional capitals remaining in Canberra and Wellington.

Joseph Lyons serves as the country's second official Prime Minister since the 1931 Australasian federal election, as the leader of the United Australasia Party (equivalent to the Conservative Party in the UK). Australasia, much like Britain, remains strongly anti-communist. It greatly values its autonomy, but believes it should maintain its close ties with Britain in order for the country to remain stable.

## History

For the most part, until 1927, the history of the country is relatively the same.

### The Call for Confederation

In the United Kingdom, the rise of the German Socialist Republic and the Soviet Union bred a foul taste of socialism. The same response was resonated to many of its colonial and Commonwealth territories, and its main holdings in Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, were no exception. The 1926 General Strike and the potential of revolution left the Baldwin administration shaken; and that shake was felt in other parts of the world too.

In the case of Australia and New Zealand, they feared that separated, they would not be staunch enough to take on the reins of revolutionary socialism. With the success of revolutions in Germany and Russia, the governments of Stanley Bruce in Australia and Gordon Coates in New Zealand realised that disunited, movements in their respective countries would shake the balance of power in the region, and with some urging from Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in Britain, the two countries officially agreed to merge in January 1927. King George V accepted the confederation as legitimate, and decreed the central capital to be in Sydney, with regional capitals remaining in Canberra for Australia and Wellington for New Zealand. Canberra and Wellington would be able to make decisions for their respective regions, but Sydney would eventually have final say.

Bruce and Coates both agreed that a federal election would be held in 1928. The two joined forces in the Nationalist Party, which won the election. Bruce served as the new confederation's first Prime Minister, and Coates remained the regional minister of New Zealand. Earle Page was appointed regional minister of Australia.

### Regional Tensions and the Rise of Lyons

While Confederation was greatly accepted on both sides, there remained a strong scepticism by the regional parliaments as to which country had the most dominance; and for the most part, it seemed that Australia held the cards as to how Australasia would govern. Disagreements between Bruce and Coates, with Bruce being perceived as neglecting New Zealand, resulted in the Nationalist Party collapsing. In 1931, the split resulted in another federal election.

The void was filled by a new party, established by Joseph Lyons, entitled the United Australasia Party, or United Australasia for short. It promised greater unity between the Australian and New Zealand regions, by establishing economic and industrial policies to specifically apply to both. The party skyrocketed into power in a landslide, and established Lyons as the country's second Prime Minister.

Entering into 1932, there are still tensions between the regions; and while Lyons is perceived to be a man of unity, should he make like his predecessor and clamber onto the side of Australia, a different leader might have to take the reins.

## Way Forward

While breaking Confederation is possible, it can result with the monarch himself intervening to prevent such from happening. However, there are some alternatives to go down.

### Lyons or Scullin Maintains Unity

Either Prime Minister Joseph Lyons or Labor Party leader James Scullin wins the next federal election and maintains the unity of both regions, and establishes Australasia as a true bulwark of democracy in the Pacific.

### Australian Dominance

Lyons loses the next federal election to Earle Page of the Australia National Party, and the politics of Australasia become Australian oriented. This can cause instability in the New Zealand region, and push the area towards radical alternatives, for example implementing the ideas of A. N. Field or any other nationalist alternative.

### New Zealand Dominance

Lyons loses the next federal election to George Forbes of the United New Zealand Party, and the politics of Australasia become New Zealand oriented. This can cause instability in the Australian region, and push the area towards radical alternatives, for example implementing the ideas of Eric Campbell or any other nationalist alternative.

### Break from Britain

Lyon loses the next federal election to Jack Miles of the Australasian Communist Party, and Australasia seeks to break from Britain, starting a crisis in the Commonwealth. Miles can then implement forms of communism into Australasia and align with the Soviet Union. This will cause grave instability, and may even push the United Kingdom into intervening.