As a concept, the sovereign citizen movement, individuals identifying as sovereign citizens or something similar have existed in Australia for decades. These beliefs have been manifest in the various ways these people attempt to dissociate themselves from societal structures1. These range from eccentrics like Prince Leonard of ‘Hutt River Province’ who attempted to set up his own ‘micronation’ on a remote bit of land, even to the extent of creating his own flag, currency and stamps2, to extreme libertarians who choose not to pay taxes or to get such things as drivers’ licences1.
These sovereign citizens are increasingly spreading misleading claims that encourage tax evasion and faulty legal arguments on social media. They believe the Australian government and taxation are illegitimate. This has prompted the Australian Taxation Office to warn against listening to fruitcakes spouting debunked claims about taxation being voluntary in Australia3.
If someone wants to be a sovereign citizen, and wants to not pay tax, I don’t really have a problem with that, as long as they don’t get to freeload on things that taxes have paid for in full or in part; taxes I have paid all my working life. These things include roads, railways, buses, footpaths, schools, ambulances, hospitals, fire brigades, libraries, courts, parks, playgrounds, police, shopping centres, reticulated electricity, reticulated water, television, radio, NBN, the mobile phone network, and the cable telephone network. If they decide to get a job, they should not be able to claim the protections afforded to other workers by the legislation and regulations passed by the parliament whose legitimacy they reject. This should make them popular employees among the rapacious capitalists; because you can pay them a pittance. If they use any of these, they should be charged with theft, for using something they have not helped fund by being part of this society. If charged and convicted they should be fined and if they cannot pay the fine, or refuse to do so, they should be made to do community work. The irony of that would probably be lost on them as they are not the sharpest tools in the shed.
Sources
“They believe the Australian government and taxation are illegitimate”, and yet they think attempting to citizen-arrest Daniel Andrews for treason is somehow legitimate? What a strange world these sovereign citizens inhabit.
Timely revisiting of the topic BA, which gets a mention in Hartcher’s SMH piece today as one of many agents which act to corrode democracy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/democracy-was-on-the-defensive-before-trump-2-0-now-it-may-be-dying-20250828-p5mqqo.html
Embedded in that article is a link to a Lowy Institute effort to explain how democracy is (easily) disrupted and by whom. Haven’t waded through it yet – looks a bit dry without the numerous specific examples which we can all think of (eg social media and its lack of regulation and accountability), although you can click on “agents” and see what role they play in the breakdown.
” Understanding Democratic Erosion”: https://interactives.lowyinstitute.org/features/democratic-erosion/
Somewhat surprising to me was how few countries have working democracies and that democracy really has been quite exceptional during the last 100+ years. I guess we were always taught how democratic the “west” was and were never encouraged to actually question whether that was ever really the case (I’ve previously mentioned the UK’s ludcirous combination of optional and fptp voting, both of which seriously weaken democracy. America’s limitations – elected law enforcement, federal and state pardon rights, optional voting etc have always existed – but we’re now seeing exactly how easy it is for corrupt and morally bankrupt people to dismantle democracy. When partisanship and unquestioning, unctuous sycophancy overrides the rule of law, and principles of decency are thrown out the door for political advantage you’re well on the path to self-destruction.
Jon,
Yep, it is disturbing to see how easily the US system was corrupted by christofascists using Trump as their ‘brand’. Every one of us have to fight like buggery to stop it being corrupted. Assorted Liberals (Nick Minchin was one) have, over the years have suggested having optional voting. That way they can use the gullibles’ outrage to increase voting for the far right (i.e. the Liberal Party).