People felt that it would be expensive to set up and that the new central parliament would also be costly to run, which would make taxes higher.
Some people had patriotic feelings towards their own colony and negative feelings towards others. People living in the smaller colonies were worried that the federated nation would be dominated by the wealthy and powerful colonies, New South Wales and Victoria, who would disadvantage them in trade relations. On the flip side, people in those two colonies also felt they would be disadvantaged because they would be saddled with the financial problems of the smaller states.
New South Wales opponents of federation worried that a federal government would have relaxed immigration laws, which would allow more non-white people to come to Australia. They argued that they had a better chance of remaining a white colony on their own. They were also jealous of Victoria and worried that Melbourne would become the federation's capital city.
Some people had patriotic feelings towards their own colony and negative feelings towards others. People living in the smaller colonies were worried that the federated nation would be dominated by the wealthy and powerful colonies, New South Wales and Victoria, who would disadvantage them in trade relations. On the flip side, people in those two colonies also felt they would be disadvantaged because they would be saddled with the financial problems of the smaller states.
New South Wales opponents of federation worried that a federal government would have relaxed immigration laws, which would allow more non-white people to come to Australia. They argued that they had a better chance of remaining a white colony on their own. They were also jealous of Victoria and worried that Melbourne would become the federation's capital city.