Australia Day inevitably draws out the question of whether Australia should keep its present flag. Indigenous people say the flag is a symbol of oppression and would like to see it changed. Others say Australia is a multi-cultural country and that the Union Jack, which is Britain’s flag, should not occupy such a significant part of the flag.
Others, particularly people who have served in the armed forces under the existing flag do not want to see it changed.
This Australian Day the independent organisation Ausflag launched an exhibition of 100 winners from 2500 entries in a preliminary design competition for a new flag. That there are so many designs indicates that whatever the strength of opinion about the existing flag, there is no popular momentum towards a new flag. No design has captured enough people’s imagination. This is in stark contrast with the growing opinion in favour of a change to a republic.
It may be, of course, that a change to a republic might lessen people’s desire for a new flag. The again, it might raise it. We should wait to see rather than setting the Olympics or 2000 as a goal.