The Australian Red Ensign is an official flag of Australia and is proclaimed under the Flags Act 1953.
Any person may fly the Australian National Flag. However, the flag should be treated with the respect and dignity it deserves as the nation's most important national symbol. Flag protocol is based on longstanding international and national practice.
The Australian Defence Force ensign
The defence force emblem in the centre of the flag also represents the three services: the crossed swords represent the army, the anchor represents the navy and the eagle represents the air force. The Commonwealth Star and the boomerang represent Australia.
Australia has a national flag but also recognises other flags, including state and territory flags, the Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag, Defence Force Ensigns and the Australian Red Ensign (flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships).
The flag of New Zealand (Māori: Te haki o Aotearoa), also known as the New Zealand Ensign, is based on the British maritime Blue Ensign – a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton or upper hoist corner – augmented or defaced with four red stars centred within four white stars, representing the Southern Cross ...
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.
Who is entitled to fly the Red Ensign? Any vessel registered in the UK, a Crown Dependency (CD) or an Overseas Territory (OT), is defined as a British ship and is allowed to fly the British Merchant Shipping flag the 'Red Ensign.
The Australian National Flag Association (ANFA) believes that the existing design is an integral part of the Australian heritage and an appropriate expression of our national identity. The existing design of stars and crosses should therefore be retained and not altered in any manner whatsoever.
18 Its key provisions read as follows: (1) It is an offence for a person, without reasonable excuse, to wilfully damage or destroy in any manner, burn or deface, defile, mutilate or trample upon or otherwise desecrate: (a) the Australian National Flag; or (b) any other flag proclaimed by the Governor-General in ...
There are three official flags in Australia. The 3 flags of Australia include the Australian National Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag.
The Australian white ensign is an Australian National Flag with a white background. It is flown from the stern of naval vessels. The Australian National Flag is flown from the bow. The Royal Australian Air Force ensign was adopted in 1948.
Images of the flag can be used on clothing, as long as it's not defaced or covered, and the main symbolic elements are identifiable.
Australia is known for many things, including swathes of tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, cute koalas, rolling wine country, and lush rainforests.
The Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag may be flown at any time. The Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag may be flown together or either flag may be flown individually, depending on the preference of the organisation.
A flag should not be flown at half-mast at night, whether or not the flag is illuminated, unless direction to half-mast the flag for an extended period of time has been issued.
A Red Flag Warning means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
16, 2023. Flags from Russia and Belarus have been banned from the Australian Open.
Dignity of the Flag
It should not be subjected to indignity or displayed in a position inferior to any other flag or ensign. The Flag normally takes precedence over all other national flags when flown in Australia. It should always be flown aloft and free and should not be allowed to fall or lie upon the ground.
The Australian National Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag can be obtained free of charge by contacting the electorate office of your local Senator or Member of the House of Representatives .
Australia's flag will never change, Malcolm Turnbull has said, dismissing a new design that drops the Union Jack. The not-for-profit group Ausflag released a new design on Friday, telling Australia it was time to “grow up” and shed symbols of British dominance.
The Union Flag is thought to symbolise Australia's history as six British colonies and the principles upon which the Australian Federation is based, although a more historic view sees its inclusion in the design as demonstrating loyalty to the British Empire.
64 per cent of respondents believed the Australian flag should change, compared with 36 per cent who believed it should remain the same.
Requests for approval to purchase and use the Australian White Ensign (AWE) can be submitted directly to the Royal Australian Navy via email to [email protected]. Approvals will only be given to those with a Navy nexus, for example, RSLs, memorials, museums, etc.
The Australian red ensign is the flag to be flown by Australian-registered merchant ships.
There are no restrictions on where the Red Ensign can be flown ashore and you may see the flag pop up here and there, particularly at the end of summer. This is because many people fly the Red Ensign on land to celebrate the annual Merchant Navy Day.