Frequently Asked Questions

1. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

The Australian flag was designed for an overseas possession of the British Empire. The British Union Flag is displayed in the canton (upper left corner) as the position of honor (as required by the Imperial Government of Britain) in what is called a defaced Blue Ensign (a British flag approved by the British Government used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom). Since the Australia Act of 1986 we are a Sovereign, Independent Nation in our own right and no longer subject to British law and oversight. So the flag implies a false allegiance and is, therefore - broken.

2. Doesn't this show disrespect for our diggers who died fighting for our flag?

Soldiers do not fight for the design of the flag. They fight for the rights and freedoms of the country. The fight for their comrades and countrymen. Many military people are also in favour of an Australian identity that is separate from our colonial past and shows the progress we have made to an independent and sovereign country, where everyone has the same rights and is made to feel part of our national identity. Some of their comments are below.

"I'm all for changing it. I get pissed off with this romantic crap about fighting and dying under a flag! As a professional soldier you fight because your government tells you to, not because of what's on your flag! I've fought in the Australian Army, I've held one of my soldiers as he died, I couldn't have cared less about the flag. We fight because we are told to, and we fight well because of our brother on our left and our brother on our right! Our grandfathers didn't fight "under" this flag, the Australian National Flag was the Union Jack until the fifties. I'm OK with our history, in fact I think its awesome, however our national symbols need to start to reflect our present and our future... change it to something that is uniquely Australian!"

- Vietnam era soldier

"Here's an example of why I personally feel the flag needs to change. Firstly I've served Australia since I was a 17 year old kid in the Army etc. so fine and to be honest no flag defined my thoughts, I just wanted to be a Digger, stuff the rest. So not so many years ago I became a contractor in the ME and I wore an Aussie flag patch with Australia written under it. The US and half the Europeans I came in contact with had no idea it was an Australian fag. The Australian Army's vehicle were all emblazoned with Kangaroos making them instantly recognisable to everyone else including the Iraqis...Our flag in the main did not signify who we were or where we came from...they just saw a Union Jack with some stars...the roo patch which I started to wear instead, changed everything including the US etc. I came into contact with. The Kangaroo, like it or not is our most recognised symbol outside Australia, not the Southern Crosses or anything else. The final nail for me was when I ran an induction course in the country and had a flag on my shirt, and when the training was done I came into the main camp to do the personal etc with our head Iraqis, mostly educated men too and the shit I copped for the flag. Why does England own Australia?...what are the stars for?...this is joke, where is Australia's real flag?...they thought I was fucking with them....all they saw was the Union Jack, the rest of our flag meant nothing to them...It was like having a foreigners brand on our countries flag, and that for me finished me with the flag we have...but re my comments before its has to be done right if at all, but I hope so one day that's why we have to have roos and Australia on the flag so non Australians know who the fuck we are."

- ex SASR Soldier and Ex Contractor - lost the ability to walk after an IED hit his vehicle

3. Why not just replace the Union Jack with the Aboriginal Flag?

First, just as our current flag implies we are still a colony of Britain, this design would imply that we are a colony of an Aboriginal Empire, which is also an incorrect allegiance.

Second, the Australian Aboriginal flag was designed by Harold Thomas, who holds the intellectual property rights on the design. Harold has stated outright that he is not willing to allow the Aboriginal flag design to be included in the national flag design, as this would lessen the impact of the aboriginal flag.

Third, the result is a terrible design that still does not include the national colours of Australia, leaves out other groups (such as Torres Straight Islanders) and would be just as problematic as the current design.

The Aboriginal flag is already recognised as an official flag of Australia alongside the National flag. Our National flag should not preference any one ethnic group within the Nation .

4. Why not use the Eureka Flag?

The Eureka flag holds a significant place in the history of Australia, especially in the rise of democracy and the labour movement. However, it is not suitable as a national flag. It does not contain the national colours and its significance in one part of the community (our labourers) make it divisive as a national flag. This flag is best kept for its current use for labour rights and as a protest flag.

5. Why do we need to include Green and Gold? Aren't they just our sporting colours?

The national colours of Australia are green and gold. They were formally proclaimed by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Ninian Stephen, on the 19th of April, 1984; on advice from the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke. The exact colours are specified as being Pantone Matching System numbers 348C and 116C, and are always referred to as "green and gold", respectively.

While we often see the colours in our national sporting teams, they are also used overseas to brand Australia and give us an identity that is recognised by overseas visitors, currently this national identity is being diluted by a national flag with British colours and symbols.

6. Shouldn't we include some aboriginal/indigenous symbols or colours?

Our National flag should not preference any one group within the nation. The best idea is to remove all symbols from any individual group of people, so that the flag can represent every Australian, whether they are our original inhabitants, convicts, free settlers or migrants from all parts of the world. The Aboriginal flag is already recognised as an official flag of Australia alongside the National flag.

7. Will we need to leave the British Commonwealth?

The "British Commonwealth" no longer exists. The "Commonwealth of Nations" has many members that have already changed their flag to show their independent status. Australia would not need to leave the Commonwealth or become a republic to change the flag design.

Commonwealth nations that have already changed their flags from colonial design to sovereign design. These countries did not need to leave the Commonwealth.

8. Shouldn't we wait until we become a republic?

While the republic debate and flag debate are both about the "image" of Australia on the international stage, we do not need to wait until we become a republic. Canada for example has no desire to become a republic and they changed their flag in 1965. Changing the flag is supported by both republicans and monarchist, the two issues are independent.

9. Isn't this going to cost a lot for little financial gain?

The actual cost for changing the flags is minimal. Flags flying outdoors need to be replaced every 9 months or so. When the flags wear out, we simply replace them with the new design.

10. What is required to change the Australian flag? What can I do?

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