the principality of hutt river was created in 1969, as a province by the name of hutt river province, in response to a dispute with the government of western australia over what the casley family considered draconian wheat production quotas. the casley farm had around of wheat ready to harvest when the quotas were issued which allowed casley to sell only 1,647 bushels or approximately . initially the five families who owned farms in hutt river banded together to fight the quota and casley lodged a protest with the governor of western australia sir douglas kendrew. the governor replied "no rectification of our quota would be allowed" which, as he acts as the queen's representative, made her majesty technically liable, in tort, for applying an unlawful imposition as the quota had not yet been passed into law. casley then lodged a claim under the law of tort for $52 million in the belief the claim would force a revision of the quota. two weeks later the government introduced a bill into parliament to "resume" their rural lands under compulsory acquisition. after approaches to the government to reconsider the acquisition bill failed, casley and his associates resorted to a british law (the treason act 1495) which they felt allowed them to secede and declare their independence from the commonwealth of australia. casley states that he nonetheless remains loyal to queen elizabeth ii. casley was elected administrator of the new "sovereign state" by his family.