At the time of Federation of all the States of Australia into one combined Commonwealth, as opposed to a number of separate States or Colonies, a competition was held to design a Flag that would be uniquely Australian.  The Australian Flag came into being after the federation of the Australian States into the Commonwealth of Australian on 1 January, 1901. The Commonwealth Blue Ensign was selected a result of a public competition (over 30 000 designs were submitted); although selected in 1901 and gazetted in 1903, it was not given Royal assent and adopted as the definitive Australian flag until 1954 in the Flags Act 1953 (Act No. 1 of 1954)! It is the flag we currently use today.  There has been some calls to change our flag, but up to this time that has not occurred.  There are two other Flags that are commonly used in Australia, one of which is known as the "Eureka Flag", and is not really gazetted as a lawful flag at all.  It is used in much the same way as the old "Confederate States Flag" is used in the United States Of America, that is to show a symbol of defiance or rebellion.  However it has no lawful standing as a Flag.  The other Flag that is flown in many places including schools, Government offices, and all Indigenous Communities is the "Aboriginal Flag".  This flag was adopted as the symbol of Australian Aboriginal people when it was first flown in 1971. It is a strident 3-colour flag composed of a large central yellow circle imposed on a background of a red lower half and a black upper half; the black represents the Aboriginal people, the yellow the sun as a life force, the red the earth and the blood of the Aboriginal people. It has no official government standing but is becoming widely recognized and acknowledged by the community and is perhaps the only symbol commonly accepted by the diversity of Aboriginal people. Its use is so common, that perhaps it is time that consideration was given to somehow including it into the current Australian Flag.  As it is at the present time, it appears that Australia actually has two flags, one for the Indigenous Community, and another for all other Australians.  I find that to be a little disconcerting, as I strongly believe that we are one nation and should only fly one flag.  Talk of a new flag has been commonplace for many years, but little is actually being done realistically.  I certainly do believe that there is a strong case for inclusion of the "Aboriginal Flag" into out current flag in some way, so that we can recognise the heritage of both the Aboriginal and European races into what has become a modern Australia.  To do otherwise is to simply cause division that is not necessary.

In the top left hand corner of the Australian Flag is the "Union Jack" of Great Britain, which signifies Australia's ties to that nation.  The right hand side of the flag shows the five stars of the "Southern Cross".  The "Southern Cross" is a constellation that can be seen from anywhere in Australia, and we are often known as "The Land Beneath The Southern Cross".  Below the "Union Jack" on the lower left hand side of the flag is the "Federation Star".  It is a seven pointed star, with one point signifying each of the six States and the seventh point signifying all of the Territories, that make up what was once known as the "Commonwealth Of Australia".  The word "Commonwealth" has been dropped and we are simply now known as Australia, although we still are made up of Six States and a number of Territories.

As you view the Australian Flag, you can see our ties with Great Britain, our position in the world (beneath the "Southern Cross") and the fact that we are made up of six States and a number of Territories.  There has been for some years, a move to grant the Northern Territory, Statehood in its own right, so if and when that occurs, then it would seem natural to assume that the "Federation Star" will be altered to be an eight pointed star.

My personal opinion is that the flag known as the "Aboriginal Flag" should also be incorporated within the design, although  we should still retain all that is currently on the flag.  That would not diminish in any ] way our own European heritage, or alter drastically the flag which so many have carried in battle, but it would also recognise the existence and contribution of Australia's Indigenous People.