In 1970 the Western Australian farmer Leonard Casley declared his land independent from the government in Perth after an agricultural dispute, giving himself the title 'His Royal Highness'. More than four decades on Casley has the passports, currency and even the licence plates that go with independence. The federal and state governments, though, don't recognise the secession and say they haven't even acknowledged it. Casley says he has proof that they have done just that and has cited the Geneva convention in his claims of government aggression. Is this a case of David fighting Goliath or just a kooky farmer with a solid grasp of constitutional law?



*This text was amended slightly after publication. It previously said 'more than three decades on', not four