It's uncertain if Australia will ever remove the Union Jack from its flag, but it's a recurring debate with strong opinions on both sides; while some Australians advocate for a fully unique design reflecting modern multiculturalism and independence, others value the historical connection and tradition, with a recent poll showing majority support for keeping the current flag, but requiring a referendum for change, making it a complex, ongoing discussion.
Retention of the Union Jack in Australian and New Zealand flags resulted from a mix of attachment to heritage, divided political leadership, referendum inertia and the practical difficulty of producing a universally compelling alternative.
The majority of Australians who care about the Flag don't want it changed. Its constancy and heritage symbols are the virtue of it.
The Union Flag in the canton of the Australian flag has never been to show British 'possession' just British heritage and was included because the rules of the 1901 competition to design a flag - as defined by the Australian government of PM Edmund Barton - included 'loyalty to the Empire' as a required criteria.
Changing the national flag
Legislation followed in 1953, with Queen Elizabeth II giving her assent while in Canberra in February 1954. The Australian flag now took precedence over the Union Jack. Australians took some decades to understand and accept the change that had taken place.
Flying and use of the Australian National flag. The Australian National Flag may be flown on every day of the year.
Denmark's flag, the Dannebrog, is widely considered the world's oldest national flag still in continuous use, with legendary origins in 1219 and solid evidence from the 14th century, inspiring other Nordic crosses and remaining unchanged for centuries. While other flags like Scotland's Saltire (St. Andrew's Cross) also have ancient roots, the Dannebrog holds the record for unbroken use as a national symbol.
New Zealand's flag came first, officially adopted in 1902, while Australia's current flag was formally adopted later in 1954, although a version of the Australian flag was flown and won a competition in 1901, making it about a year older in practice but with NZ's formal adoption preceding Australia's final design. Both are British Blue Ensigns with the Southern Cross, but NZ's stars are red and Australia's are white with a Commonwealth Star.
On January 1, 1901, six colonies were joined together to create the Commonwealth of Australia, a self-governing Dominion in the British Empire. While the new nation was sovereign when it came to its domestic affairs, the United Kingdom maintained control over its relations with the wider world.
It is deemed to be a trade union symbol under the Commonwealth building code, which prohibits using any "building association logos, mottos or indicia" on property, clothing or equipment that suggests union membership is required to work on government-funded projects.
The $20 million paid for the Aboriginal flag's copyright went to Luritja artist Harold Thomas, the flag's designer, and the license holders, with the Australian Federal Government acquiring the rights in 2022 to make the flag freely available for public use, ending long-standing disputes and licensing issues. The deal also included funding for an Indigenous student scholarship and directing royalties to NAIDOC.
The flag of the USA, which added a star every time a state joined the Union, is the flag that has had the most changes.
The Australian Commonwealth Government bought the copyright to the Aboriginal Flag in a $20 million deal in 2022 from its creator, Harold Thomas, making it freely available for public use, ending previous licensing restrictions by companies like WAM Clothing. Now, Australians can use the flag on apparel (like sports jerseys), websites, and for personal use without needing permission or paying royalties, although exclusive manufacturing rights for official flags went to Carroll & Richardson Flagworld.
A symbol of Empire
For many, the flag still carries connotations of colonialism as well as unsettling associations with Britian's role in the transatlantic slave trade.
Flag precedence
The Australian National Flag takes precedence over all flags when flown in Australia or an Australian territory. It should not be flown in an inferior position to any other flag with the exception of the United Nations Flag on United Nations Day.
The final constitutional ties between the United Kingdom and Australia ended in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986. Formal economic relations between the two countries declined following Britain's accession to the European Economic Community in 1973.
The crimes that make up the '19 Crimes' include:
As in Canada, the British monarch remains the monarch of Australia, which is now an independent, democratic nation with a tradition of religious tolerance and free speech. Minority parties often hold the balance of power in the Senate, which serves as a chamber of review for the decisions of the government.
Britain: 400 years
The British Empire, while at its peak, encompassed territories on every continent and lasted for over 400 years, beginning in the mid-16th century and ending with the handover of Hong Kong in 1997. It colonised India for almost 190 years.
The national flag most similar to and likely to be confused with that of Australia is the New Zealand flag, introduced for restricted use in 1869 and adopted as the New Zealand national flag in 1902.
Though similar, the countries' flags are not identical. New Zealand's features four five-pointed, red stars to represent the Southern Cross. On the Australian flag, the four stars are white and each has seven points. Six of the stars' points represent Australia's six states.
Denmark: The Dannebrog The Dannebrog is the national flag of Denmark and is considered the oldest continuously used national flag in the world. According to legend, it fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219. The flag features a white Scandinavian cross on a red background, symbolizing Christianity.
The flag of Mozambique was adopted on May 1, 1983. It includes the image of an AK-47 and is the only national flag in the world to feature such a modern rifle. The flag is based on the flag of the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO).
Another way to look at the age of a country is when it became a sovereign state:
Malawi and Libya both have flags that were recently adopted.