Ministry of Finance announces "No GST Increase"

ALSTON, NCD, Sep 30 - The Ministry of Finance has announced that tomorrow's GST rise in New Zealand will not be passed onto citizens of the FCA.

A spokesman for the Ministry yesterday announced that "GST shall apply to the FCS, but it will be set at a rate of 10%. Of course, external expenses will rise due to outside GST rises, but within our borders, customers can expect to pay a flat ten percent rate."

Some have voiced their concerns that Andersonia may be at a disadvantage before it's even founded. A Times street poll found that some think that the Government would be wise to adopt the 15% rate, or 12.5% at the least.

"If Andersonia has its GST at 10%, then it means there'll be considerable snarl-ups when trying to manage finances between us and New Zealand" one said. "If we have our GST at 15%, then the only conversion we'll need is the 1.6 for the currency."

"We'll go around in circles" said another.

The Ministry is however defending its choice to keep the GST rate at 10%. "It means that customers can be satisfied they don't have to pay too much tax on their goods, and the Government gains some income out of it. We're not the only ones that have a lower GST rate, Canada has a 5% rate, Singapore has a 7% rate, and Australia has a 10% rate like the one we are intending to implement."

However there is a chance that the 10% rate may rise in the near future. "We're not ruling out a possible rise in the future, but it won't be too severe." There is some speculation that by the end of 2011 GST may rise to 12.5% or to the New Zealand rate of 15%.

The exchange rate between the simoleon and the dollar is unchanged.

Premier announces members of the Board of Ministers

ALSTON, NCD, Sep 24 - With just forty days to go until the foundation of the Federal Commonwealth, Premier Daniel Anderson today announced his choices for the Andersonian Government. Whilst he has not confirmed a complete Government yet, he has announced the following choices for positions on the Board of Ministers:

MINISTER OF FINANCE

Livia Aïrosser

MINISTER OF DEFENCE

Andrea Carrols

It has been announced that in the next few weeks a complete Board of Ministers will be formed in time for Foundation on November 4th.

FCA Gains Television and Radio Service

Premier Daniel Anderson today announced that the government is setting up experimental television and radio broadcasts by the Andersonian Broadcasting Service (ABS). No programs have yet been confirmed for the ABS Television Service or ABS Radio, but it has been confirmed Government broadcasts and other news will be broadcasted from here.

Television and radio listings shall be made available by the Times.

Predecessor State to be Dissolved

It has been announced that the FCA's predecessor state, the Glorious Dictatorial Republic (GDR), shall be dissolved before Proclamation Day to make way for a smooth transition into the Federal Commonwealth.

Speaking in Alston this afternoon, the Premier announced the beginning of the end of the nation he founded nearly two years ago.

"The GDR has been an honest and faithful state to me. It has been through good times and bad, and the people and I have grown close and strong as one. And yet it is necessary to bid the GDR farewell, so that it may bow out of the spotlight in favour of it's successor, the Federal Commonwealth. This has not been an easy decision, but it is necessary in order to get this micronation going. But it is not all bad news, many key persons within the GDR heirarchy will be coming over to the FCA on November 4th, and the GDR shall live on in name too, as both nations shall share the same common nation name: Andersonia."

There is some animosity as to the exact date the FCA was founded, with dates ranging throughout the month of November 2008, although November 4 is the date generally accepted. During its early months, the GDR began rapid expansion, although actual physical territory was not claimed. There were several opponents to the regime, although there were supporters, several of whom have, as the Premier stated in this afternoon's speech, consented to becoming Ministers within the FCA. During 2009 and 2010 there were many battles and clashes won against the aggressors, however a period of inactivity ("down-time"), was noticed around late 2009-early 2010.

Activity within the GDR has declined sharply since the Times announcement of plans to form the FCA (August 30, 2010). Today, it was decided to dissolve the GDR under the GDR Dissolution Act 2010, in order to found the FCA. The date of dissolution has been set atNovember 3, 2010, one day short of the second anniversary of the GDR.

Arr me hearties, 45 days to go!

Avast, ye lily-livered scallywags! Thar be 45 days until we be hoistin' the jolly roger of the FCA! Cap'n be workin' all day an' all night ter be gettin' th' nation ready, an' a whole gov'nment's bein' created!

Cap'n be lettin ye know that thar be a special bottle fer yer messages to be stuck in and thrown into th' sea to sail to the FCA: mailto:fcagov@gmail.com Cap'n also wants to let ye know ye can soon fly th' flag of the FCA as yer own, and we also be lookin' for other pirate vessels to raise our rum to.

Things be lookin' mighty ship-shape for Novembarrrr the fourth, so raise the rum and get ready! Arrgh!

NCD, Auckland Suburban Region, Camina and Tasman Districts to form FCA

The Provinces of Andersonia have been announced today from the soon-to-be capital, Falls Town. Speaking from the Capital Buildings today, the Premier announced the following division of the FCA to take place:

National Capital District (NCD)
The capital, Falls Town, is situated in this province. The province encompasses the towns of Paihia, Russell, Kerikeri, Kawakawa and Opua. It is the hub of the FCA.

Auckland Suburban Region (ASR)
There are four areas within Auckland City that comprise the ASR. These are Lynnavon (New Lynn, Avondale, Rosebank, Titirangi, Kelston, Green Bay), Hills District (Hillsborough, Lynfield), Auckland & Eastern Bays (Auckland City, Newton, Parnell, Mission Bay, Kohimarama, Orakei) and Franklin County (Waiuku, Patumahoe, Glenbrook). Lynnavon shall serve as Provincial Capital.

Camina (CAM)
Part of the city of Tauranga has agreed to join the FCA for foundation on November 4th. This Province shall comprise areas around Tauranga CBD.

Tasman Districts (TSD)
There are two areas of the Tasman Districts on the East Coast of Australia: the Upper Tasman District (Surfers Principality) in southern Queensland, and the Lower Tasman District (Bass Principality) in eastern Victoria.
 
Each Province is to be represented in the Board of Ministers by an appointed Provincial Representative. It has also been announced the Constitution allows for provincial expansion, should this be desired.

FCA Currency Announced by Ministry of Finance

The Ministry of Finance has announced that the official currency of the Federal Commonwealth of Andersonia shall be the ANDERSONIAN SIMOLEON (§, ASM). This shall be divided into shillings (s).

CURRENCY STRUCTURE

100 shillings (100s) make 1 Simoleon (§1).

10 shillings (10s) make 1 decimal (1d).

10 decimals (10d) make 1 Simoleon (§1).

25 shillings (25s) may also be written as 2/5d, or two decimals five shillings.

75 shillings (75s) may also be written as 7/5d, or seven decimals, five shillings.

25s (2/5d) shall be equal to one farthing.

50s (5d) shall be equal to one florin (two farthings).

Decimals apply to any ten-shilling total: 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 8d, 9d. These are the only numbers that may be used - 10d, 11d, 15d is not an accepted decimal amount and must be converted to the Simoleon.shilling format, in these cases §1, §1.10s/§1.1d, §1.15/§1.5d.

The x/5d shall not apply to any other decimal amount (1d, 3d, 4d, 6d, 8d, 9d), and the x/5d may not be used for any other shilling purpose (2/6d-26s, 4/2d-42s). This format is not necessary for a fifty shilling amount (5d, 5/0d, 5/5d).

When currency is written down WITH shillings (§2.30), the letter 's' may or may not be affixed. Either use shall be accepted (§2.30/§2.30s). However when NO Simoleons are involved the letter 's' MUST be affixed(30s).

Example amounts:

§4.30s is four Simoleons and thirty shillings.

§6.5d is six Simoleons and five decimals, or fifty shillings.

§226.7/5d is two hundred and twenty-six Simoleons and seven decimals, five shillings, or seventy-five shillings.

COINAGE AND NOTES

Coinage: 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s, 50s, §1 and §2 (that is, 1s/2s/5s/1d/2d/5d/§1/§2)

Notes: §5, §10, §20, §50, §100, §200, §500

NEW ZEALAND DOLLARS

The New Zealand Dollar ($NZ/NZD) is also legal tender in the FCA and shall be accepted alongside the Simoleon.

One Simoleon shall be equal to One dollar and Sixty Cents.

The appearance of the coins and notes has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Finance, but it has been confirmed the Treasury shall be responsible for the printing of notes and the striking of coins, and that the Imperial Bank of Andersonia shall be responsible for distribution.

Note: The Times would like to point out the conversion between dollars and simoleons as:
Simoleon>Dollar: Simoleon amount x 1.6.
Dollar>Simoleon: Dollar amount ÷ 1.6.

National Website under construction

The Federal Party of Andersonia has confirmed a website is under construction for the nation. This website shall contain news and information about Andersonia and shall be the centrepoint for all Andersonian affairs.

The Times shall remain as the official news source for the Federal Commonwealth of Andersonia, but shall be closely tied with the website.

The website is not yet live and no address or date of launch has been given, however a Micronations link has been given for now.