Flags are used by nearly every nation in the world to represent them in a visual form.  They use colours, shapes, lines and symbols to represent characteristics of the country, including national colours and important national themes, concepts and history.  While our current flag may suggest that we are still a colony of the Great Britain; that our national colours are red, white and blue; that we have limited cultural diversity and no ancient history of first peoples, it contains some meaningful symbolism that should not be disgarded.  

 

I believe it's important keep any change to our national flag to a minimum, that is, remove the Union Jack and keep the symbols that form part of our identity.

 

Retain the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star

The Southern Cross is an Australian visual icon, representing our Great Southern Land and its unique position on the planet. 

The Commonwealth Star (or 'Federation Star') is a seven-pointed star representing the 6 states of Australia, the seventh  symbolising our current (and future) territories. 

 

Include our National Colours Green and Gold

Gold conjures images of Australia's beaches, mineral wealth, grain harvests and the fleece ofAustralian wool. Green evokes the forests, eucalyptus trees and pastures of the Australian landscape. Green and gold are also the colours of Australia's national floral emblem – the golden wattle.'Ref.

 

Aboriginal Colours

(Gold), Black and Red, as represented in the Australian Aboriginal Flag should also be included to symbolise;

- the sun, the giver of life and protector

- our indigenous peoples and traditional custodians of our land (black)

- the red earth of the land, the red ochre used in ceremonies and thus indigenous people's spiritual relationship with it