Delmago Island will hold a referendum on the island's constitutional status on July 9, 2021. The state government announced the referendum date on 30 March.
Voters on the island will be presented with three options - the status quo, becoming a federal territory, or becoming part of East Mainland.
Background[]
Referendum process[]
Options and proposals[]
Federal territory[]
Under this proposal, the island will revert to being a territory under direct control of the federal government, which was its status between 1891 and 1958. If the island becomes a territory, its 'sovereign' status will be abolished, and the federal government will assume responsibility for its laws and government, advised by a locally-elected council. Under this proposal, the island would retain its sole member of the House of Commons, but would receive only two Senators (down from the six it has currently). This would reduce the size of the Senate from 80 to 76 (coincidentally the same size as that of Australia, which was modelled on Georgeland's).
East Mainland[]
Following negotiations with the governments of both East and West Mainland, the government announced on 30 March that East Mainland had made an offer for consideration that was acceptable to the state. Under the proposal, the island would become part of the state of East Mainland, gain one member of its legislature, and retain its House of Commons seat. With this proposal, a special department would be set up in the East Mainland government with responsibility for the island, and an annual grant to the island would be set into law. Further, the state would appoint a Resident Commissioner to the island to represent it.
Under this proposal, the island would no longer elect any senators, except as part of the East Mainland electorate, reducing the size of the Senate from 80 members to 74.
Status quo[]
The status quo option is simply to continue the present arrangement, with the island a state of Georgeland with its own elected government. The government announced that, if this option is chosen, it may need to introduce different governance, economic and structural rules to maintain the island's stability.