The Bragg MP, who resigned just weeks after being re-elected in the March state election, compared removing the border dividing the two states to the reunification of Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

“I would like to see the artificial line dividing the central desert people forever removed,” Chapman told parliament last night.

“The Northern Territory has resources and is strategically placed to the north of Australia, with security infrastructure.

“It was water, liquid gas, gold and a youthful population. South Australia can provide opportunities for their statehood, employment, higher education and a commercial base that would assist Territorians.

“Australia also has four iconic tourism attractions – colloquially called the Bridge, the Rock, the Reef and the Island. We have two of them in our regions – Uluru and Kangaroo Island.

“Joined up, we can offer an experience for international tourists from the tropics, across the desert and to the rich environment to the South.”

Northern Territory and South Australia were one state until 1907.