The Australian flag is an object of pride and passion for many Australians. Many Australians who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam feel they served under the present flag. Some Australians feel that the Union Jack in the corner expresses a significant part, if not the most significant part, of our history, heritage and culture. These people see no reason to change the present flag.
Other Australians, however, feel that the Union Jack is no longer an appropriate part of our flag. It is not uniquely Australian and in the past 50 years a huge number of migrants have come to Australia for non-British nations. They have added to the heritage and culture of the nation. Indeed, they may have changed it. Moreover, many migrants from the British Isles and their children have made Australia their home and their nation. Many of them feel the Union Jack is no longer appropriate as the second-most or most dominant symbol on the flag.
Many former British colonies which had the Union Jack on their flag have changed their flags to something more symbolic and identifiable of their nation. Canada and Papua New Guinea are good examples. Indeed, the Canadian flag is one of the most instantly recognisable and most elegantly designed flags in the world. Previously, a quarter of the Canadian flag was taken up by the Union Jack.
There are some similarities with the republic issue, but there are differences. Like the republican movement, there is significant support for change, but there is no ready agreement as to the precise design of the replacement. Once a precise alternative emerges, support for change might become stronger.
Unlike the republic issue, however, the British element to the flag is not so inherently repugnant. Australia should not have a head of state who is the head of state of another country. The highest symbolic office in the Australian system should not be chosen by hereditary and on a sexist basis.
On the flag, however, the British element can be seen as just a symbol of history, not an expression of present reality. There is less power to the move for change. Nonetheless, the move for change is significant and cannot be ignored. The presentation to the public over the past two weeks of 109 flags by the non-profit voluntary organisation Ausflag has had a large response.
Its internet site has had a million hits, which would amount to 200,000 people. The Canberra Times poll on the same flags got 3330 responses, a significant portion of the circulation, bearing in mind that respondents had to pay to give an opinion. In a country like the US, Britain, Japan, Israel, Turkey or virtually any other country, a move to change the flag would be dismissed as fringe lunacy. In Australia, however, the interest shown in designs for a new flag is clear evidence of a dissatisfaction with the present flag.
Whether that dissatisfaction gains enough momentum and coalesces around a single alternative is another matter. The indications are at present that the movement has a long way to go. Unless an excellent design emerges, it would be unwise to make a change just because the Olympic Games or the centenary of federation are nigh. It would be better to wait. If the right design emerges that inspires national support it will take off, just as the Aboriginal flag has in the past 25 years.