Aussies are being asked to vote on six alternative national flags in the lead-up to Australia Day, with options including a wattle emblem, the Southern Cross (without the union jack) and a reconciliation flag.
The survey has been set up by Western Sydney University, in an attempt to discover Australian attitudes to the flag and whether it should be changed.
“The alternative Australian flag survey was inspired somewhat by the New Zealand government’s flag referendum,” Benjamin Jones from Western Sydney University said. “They had a full democratic process, which is something Australia never had.”
“We are yet to have a democratic process about choosing our flag in the way that New Zealand has,” Mr Jones said.
SEE THE SIX FLAGS HERE:
Vote here
The Eureka Flag
“The Eureka flag is an iconic Australian symbol associated with the Diggers who fought at the Eureka Stockade. The advantage of this flag is that it has a revolutionary history going back to 1854… A possible disadvantage is that the flag has been appropriated by many groups.”
Southern Horizon
“The Southern Horizon flag was designed by Brett Moxey and offers a simple but instantly recognisable design. It maintains the Federation Star and the Southern Cross — the two most popular elements of the Blue Ensign.”
Reconciliation Flag
“The Reconciliation Flag was designed by ANU academic, Dr John Blaxland. The flag is deliberately complex. The argument here is that a new flag should be embedded with meaning. It should be unique and show the world who we are as a people.”
Sporting Flag
“Ausflag, an independent lobby group for a new national flag, designed a Sporting Flag in 2013.The immediate aim was to give Australian sports fans a patriotic flag to wave, especially during the Ashes and other competitions against England or Great Britain.”
Golden Wattle
“The Golden Wattle is Australia’s official floral emblem and Wattle Day is celebrated on 1 September every year. President of the Wattle Day Association, Terry Fewtrell, argues that the wattle links us to the earliest human occupation of this continent.”
Southern Cross
“The 1991 Ausflag competition winner was a simple blue flag with a white southern cross. Academic, Russell Kennedy has modified the design to include yellow stars, linking it to the Aboriginal flag.”
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