Will Australia’s flag change if the Union Flag is redrawn?
The answer is a resounding no, says John Vaughan.
A government-approved public competition chose the Australian National Flag in 1901.
It is registered under law as the chief national symbol of Australia.
The Commonwealth Parliament approved and passed into law the Flags Act 1953.
After the passing of the Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Bill 2008, only a democratic vote of the Australian people can change the design of the Australian National Flag. .
Scottish independence would have no effect whatsoever on the current ‘Stars and Crosses’ design of the Australian National Flag.
The Australian National Flag is the sovereign property of the Australian people who give permission to their (Commonwealth) government to use their flag.
No other country or people own or have influence over the use or design of the Australian National Flag.
Well done Australia. The UK has lessons to learn from the approaches taken by a number of Commonwealth nations in order to avoid the ‘redrawn foolishness’ we have just put ourselves through.