The states won't let go their power. It took two world wars for them to let go as much as they have.

Thank goodness, at the moment.

Also, the federal system means individual states can forge ahead socially for a while. In my lifetime it was SA, then NSW, then (amazingly) Tas.

I think people from Greater Melbourne are likely more like New Zealnders than we are Queenslanders (I see no reason ever to go there).

Certainly when I've travelled overseas, NZ folks seem more like 'my poeple' than to people from some other areas of Australia.

Quite emphatically.

But, yes, I do know there are still cultural differences.