Questions over January 26 celebrations have seen a fresh push to change the Australian flag with campaigners advocating the removal of the Union Jack.
As the debate over whether to change the date of Australia Day to a less culturally offensive day, lobbyists are now turning their attention to the national flag.
Left-wing campaigners argue the Union Jack – which represents Australia’s British origins – is a symbol rooted in colonialism and oppression which excludes indigenous Australians from the narrative.
Ausflag, an advocacy group for the new Australian flag, unveiled a controversial new design (pictured) which sees the Union Jack cut out completely, leaving only the Southern Cross and the seven-point Commonwealth star.
As the debate over whether to change the date of Australia Day from January 26 to a less culturally offensive day, lobbyists are now turning their attention to the national flag
Ausflag, an advocacy group for the new Australian flag, unveiled a controversial new design which sees the Union Jack cut out completely, leaving only the Southern Cross and the seven-point Commonwealth star.
Executive Director of Ausflag, Harold Scruby said: ‘This new minimalist/evolutionary design is based on the ‘Commonwealth Star’ (commonly known as the Federation Star) replacing the Union Jack. It could not be more simple. It’s a natural progression.’
‘The current design symbolises Great Britain dominating Australia. It depicts Australia as a British colony: A veritable British branch office.
This new design puts the Australian Commonwealth in the primary position. It celebrates egalitarianism over aristocracy. It celebrates independence over dominance. It celebrates Australians united by a common interest.’
According to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Scruby also slammed ‘yobbos’ who proudly display the Union Jack while celebrating Australia Day.
According to Ausflag founder Harold Scruby, the changing of the flag is ‘inextricably linked’ with changing the date of Australia Day (Stock image)
Greens leader Richard Di Natale (pictured) also supports the proposal to change the Australian flag
‘From an Aborigine’s perspective it must be pretty awful when you see all these yobbos wearing Union Jacks over their shoulders… [they’re saying] ‘because I’m British I’m more Australian than you,’ he said.
The Ausflag founder said ditching the old flag is ‘inextricably linked’ with changing Australia Day from January 26.
He argues a new flag is an opportunity for the country to show the world that we have ‘grown up’.
‘It’s vital we tell the world we’ve grown up,’ he explained.
‘This campaign is not anti-British. It’s passionately pro-Australian. It’s no more anti-British than when we changed our national anthem from God Save the Queen to Advance Australia Fair.’
The proposal has also won the approval of Greens leader Richard Di Natale, who told the publication the country is in need of a design which represents ‘modern Australia’.
‘Like many Australians, I believe we need a flag that more accurately represents modern Australia as a confident, mature and multicultural nation with a proud Aboriginal heritage,’ he said.