
There have been claims on social media that Australia is a private, for-profit corporation registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This claim has been debunked by political economy experts, who assert that the Australian government's registration with the SEC is a compliance measure to enable the issuing of securities in the US market. Australia is a self-governing federation with a democratic monarchy and a constitution. It is not a corporation, but rather a corporate state, with laws that elevate the power of corporations above governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australia's status | Country, not a corporation |
| Basis of misconception | Australian government's registration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) |
| Purpose of registration | To sell Australian government securities in US markets |
| Requirement to register | Applicable to all foreign governments selling securities in the US |
| Local government status | Unconstitutional, according to pseudo-legal theory |
| Legal personality | Separate from natural personality, created by birth certificate |
| Commonwealth Constitution | Defines powers of federal government, with remaining powers held by states |
| Parliamentary process | Necessary to change laws, not by denying legitimacy |
| Conspiracy theories | Present regarding deposit guarantee scheme and US debt securities |
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What You'll Learn

Australia is a corporation registered with the US SEC
Australia is not a corporation, but a self-governing federation and democratic monarchy with a constitution. It is, however, a Form 18 United States SEC-registered entity, which allows it to issue securities in the US market. This is a standard requirement for any foreign government intending to sell bonds and securities in the US.
The misconception that Australia is a corporation arises from the fact that the Australian government is registered with the US SEC. This registration is related to the introduction of a deposit guarantee scheme under the Rudd government, which would allow the Australian government to issue debt securities subject to US laws and financial regulations if an Australian financial institution were to collapse.
The Commonwealth of Australia is registered with the SEC, but this does not create a corporation and is not a threat to Australia's sovereignty. The registration is simply a necessary compliance with US laws on debt securities. All foreign governments which sell bonds and other securities in the US market are required to register.
The belief that Australia is a corporation has been promoted by subscribers to Australia's sovereign citizen movement, which claims that the Australian government is illegitimate. This theory is false and has been debunked by political economy experts.
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Australia is a democratic monarchy
Australia's system of government is modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy and responsible government, with some unique features incorporated into the Constitution of Australia. Federal elections are held approximately every three years to select members of parliament who represent Australians and make laws on their behalf. The Australian Constitution sets out how the federal and state parliaments share the power to make laws, with three levels of government working together: the Parliament, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
The monarchy of Australia is a central component of its system of government. It is a distinct office from the monarchy of the United Kingdom, with the monarch acting exclusively upon the advice of Australian state and federal ministers. The British government cannot advise the monarch on any matters pertinent to Australia since the Australia Act 1986. Each of the Australian states is also represented by a governor, who is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the respective premiers.
While Australia is a democratic monarchy, it is not a corporation. The misconception arises from the fact that the Australian government is registered with the United States' Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This registration is a compliance measure that enables the Australian government to issue securities and trade in the US market. It is a necessary requirement for all foreign governments wishing to offer and sell debt securities in the US, and it does not create a corporation or threaten Australia's sovereignty.
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The misconception that Australia is a corporation
Australia is a self-governing federation and a democratic monarchy with a constitution. However, there is a misconception that Australia is a corporation. This idea has been labelled a pseudo-legal theory and a conspiracy theory. It stems from the fact that the Australian government is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Commonwealth of Australia is a Form 18 United States SEC-registered entity. This registration allows the nation of Australia to issue securities in the US market. All foreign governments that sell bonds and other securities in the US market are required to register. This is a standard practice for any non-US sovereign government wishing to offer and sell debt securities in the US. For example, Indonesia, the European Investment Bank, and the Australian state of New South Wales have also filed similar forms.
The belief that Australia is a corporation also intersects with the strawman/freeman theory, which posits that each person has two personalities: a natural personality and a legal personality created by their birth certificate, which makes them an asset of the government corporation. This theory has been called a delusion by some commentators.
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The Commonwealth of Australia is a Form 18 US SEC-registered entity
The misconception that Australia is a corporation arises from this registration with the SEC. This theory has been promoted by subscribers to Australia's sovereign citizen movement, who believe they are not subject to any government or law. However, this claim is false and has been debunked by political economy experts. Australia is not a private, for-profit corporation; it is simply complying with US laws and financial regulations to enable the issuance of government securities in the US market.
The registration of the Commonwealth of Australia with the SEC is separate from the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution, which authorises the country's existence as a self-governing federation and democratic monarchy. The Australian government's registration with the SEC is a practical measure to facilitate financial transactions and does not imply that Australia is a corporation.
While it is true that Australia is registered with the SEC, it is important to understand that this does not change the nature of the country or its government. Australia remains a sovereign nation with its own constitution, laws, and governance structures. The SEC registration is a technical requirement for participating in certain financial activities in the US market and should not be interpreted as evidence of Australia being a corporation.
In conclusion, while the Commonwealth of Australia is indeed a Form 18 US SEC-registered entity, this does not mean that Australia is a corporation. The registration is a standard procedure for foreign governments looking to issue securities in the US market and does not affect Australia's status as a sovereign nation.
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Australia is a corporate state
Australia is a self-governing federation and a democratic monarchy with a constitution. However, the misconception that Australia is a corporation arises from the fact that the Australian government is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This registration is related to an earlier misconception that the Queensland government was under the control of the Brigalow Corporation.
In reality, the Brigalow Corporation was a corporate entity created by the Queensland government in 1992 to oversee the Brigalow Lands Development Scheme. Similarly, Australia registered with the SEC in 2008 to enable the sale of government securities in US markets. This is a standard requirement for all foreign governments that wish to sell bonds and securities in the US.
Despite this, some Australians are attracted to the pseudo-legal theory that Australia is a corporation. This theory stems from the belief that the current Commonwealth Constitution is illegitimate, and that local government in Australia is unconstitutional. Adherents to this theory claim that Australians are not obliged to pay local council rates and fines, and that each Australian has two personalities: a natural personality and a separate legal personality, or "strawman", which is under the authority of the government corporation.
However, political economy experts have stated that the SEC filings are not evidence that Australia is a corporation. Instead, they are a necessary compliance measure that allows the Australian government to issue securities and raise funds in the US, and they do not threaten Australia's sovereignty.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a country and not a corporation. The misconception that Australia is a corporation arises from the fact that the Australian government is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This registration is a necessary compliance measure that enables the Australian government to issue securities in the US market.
Australia registered with the SEC in 2008 when the Rudd government guaranteed the foreign borrowings of Australia's banks. All foreign governments that sell bonds and other securities in the US markets are required to register.
Australia became a self-governing federation on January 1, 1901, after the British Parliament passed the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. The Commonwealth Constitution defines the powers of the federal government. Furthermore, an independent expert and political economy expert, Ashani Amarasinghe, has stated that the registration of Australia with the SEC does not create a corporation and is in no way a threat to Australia's sovereignty.
































