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Border Dispute
The Border Dispute is the name generally given to describe the ongoing conflict between New England and Australia over control of the Macdonald River catchment along the southern border of the two nations. The dispute has been a long and ongoing one, and was in part responsible for the Five Day War in 2032. In recent years the dispute has been mediated by the United Nations, and today both nations assist with the administration of a large "no mans land" between the Moonbi Ranges and the Macdonald River.
- Introduction
- History
- Treaty of Wellington
- Five Day War
- 2034 Agreement
- 2044 Agreement
- 2054 Agreement
- Geography & Demographics
- Viewpoints
- New England
- Australia
- United Nations
Introduction
History
Treaty of Wellington -
Five Day War -
2034 Agreement -
2044 Agreement -
2054 Agreement - The present arrangement will expire on 30 June 2054, and at present negotiations are under way to determine the fate of the line for the next ten years.
When negotiations opened in 2050, the United Nations made it clear that it would not accept the present situation being extended beyond the end of the current agreement. This means both parties will need to reach a compromise agreement that will determine the sovereignty of the disputed area.
Geography and Demographics
The line runs through both rugged and open country. For the most part, the northern boundary of the line runs along the Macdonald River. The southern border of the zone is determined by the boundary of the cadastral county of Darling (to Mt Gulligal), the catchment of the Macdonald River along the Moonbi Range (to the Main North Railway) and the former boundary of the shire of Walcha.
While some of this land is of little economic value, the vast majority of it has agricultural uses that would benefit the land poor New England greatly. Because of this obvious advantage, the Australians have been reluctant to concede the land without compensation.
There are also four settlements (Manilla, Bendemeer, Woolbrook and Nowendoc) within the disputed territory with a combined population of 3,000 people. The majority of the population in these settlements is very pro-Australian and opposes any union with New England.
Viewpoints
New England - (Pan New Englanders)
Australia
United Nations
Politics of New England
Parties · Elections · Topics
Topics: Foreign Relations · Macdonald Line · Republicanism
