You may have heard of Brexit, but one regional MP is now on a mission to make his idea of "Rexit" a reality in Australia — separating regional NSW and Victoria from their "city-based overlords".
The near-impossible plan comes from the Victorian Liberal Democrats — a party which claims their principles were focused on getting government out of people's lives.
"Smaller government, lower taxes, greater personal freedom. These are not just slogans,'' newly elected Victorian Upper House MP Tim Quilty said in his first speech to Parliament.
Describing himself as "a mild-mannered accountant from the bush", Mr Quilty promised to "throw grenades and ruffle feathers on behalf of the people of northern Victoria".
He said voters were tired of taxes, rules and red tape, especially when decisions were made in Melbourne.
"The ultimate solution to the problem might be Rexit — the regions of NSW and Victoria separating from their city-based overlords and forming new states,'' Mr Quilty said.
Elected with 3.76 per cent of the primary vote in the Northern Region electorate, Mr Quilty railed against speed limits, gun laws and new national parks.
He also said if regional people "dictated the lives" of Melburnians, there would be riots.
RSL parliament on Victoria's border with NSW
He suggested the border city of Wodonga could be the new capital, with the RSL to act as the parliament until one was built.
"Now if seceding the region of northern Victoria from this state sounds a bit extreme, the reason behind the idea is not extreme — the people of northern Victoria want their voices to be heard,'' he said.
His party colleague David Limbrick used his first speech earlier this month to campaign for drug reform, arguing the war on drugs had failed.
The two Liberal Democrats are part of an 11-person Upper House crossbench in the 40-member Legislative Council.
Labor has 18 votes, so will need crossbench support on any bill opposed by the Coalition.
Mr Quilty concluded his speech with a call for "freedom".
"Get out of our way. Let us live our lives as we choose," he said.
