Flag Act 1953 – Statute
Act Number 1 as Amended
Short Title [See Note 1]
Extension to Territories
The Australian National Flag
The Australian Red Ensign
Other Flags
Warrants to Use Flags
Rules As To Use of Flags
Flying of Union Jack
Schedule 1 – The Australian National Flag and the Australian Red Ensign
Schedule 2 – Flags
Act Details
An Act to declare a certain Flag to be the Australian National Flag and to make other provision with respect to Flags.
This Act may be cited as the Flags Act 1953.
This Act extends to all the Territories.
The blue flag described in Schedule 1, being the flag a reproduction of which is set out in Part I of Schedule 2, is declared to be the Australian National Flag.
The blue flag referred to in subsection (1) ceases to be the Australian National Flag if, and only if:
a new flag or flags, and the flag referred to in subsection (1), are submitted in each State and Territory to the electors qualified to vote for the election of members of the House of Representatives; and
the new flag, or one of the new flags, is chosen by a majority of all the electors voting.
The form and manner in which a proposal for a new Australian National Flag is submitted to electors, and the manner in which a vote on the proposal is taken (which may include the adoption of a form of preferential voting for choosing among 3 or more flags), and arrangements for adopting a new flag as the Australian National Flag if chosen as mentioned in subsection (2), are to be as the Parliament prescribes.
In this section: Territory means any Territory referred to in section 122 of the constitution in respect of which there is in force a law allowing its representation in the House of Representatives.
The red flag described in Schedule 1, being the flag a reproduction of which is set out in Part II of Schedule 2, shall be known as the Australian Red Ensign.
The Governor-General may, by Proclamation, appoint such other flags and ensigns of Australia as he thinks fit.
The Governor-General may, by warrant, authorize a person, body or authority to use a flag or ensign referred to in, or appointed under, this Act, either without defacement or defaced in the manner specified in the warrant.
The Governor-General may make, and cause to be published, rules for the guidance of persons in connexion with the flying or use of flags or ensigns referred to in, or appointed under, this Act.
This Act does not affect the right or privilege of a person to fly the Union Jack.
The Australian National Flag is a blue flag, and the Australian Red Ensign is a red flag, the design of each of which is specified in clause 1A.
Each of the flags referred to in clause 1 has:
the Union Jack occupying the upper quarter next the staff;
a large white star (representing the 6 States of Australia and the Territories) in the centre of the lower quarter next the staff and pointing direct to the centre of St. George's Cross in the Union Jack, as specified in Table A; and
5 white stars (representing the Southern Cross) in the half of the flag further from the staff, as specified in Table B.
In Table A and Table B, "width of flag" means the measurement of the hoist edge of the flag.
In Table B, "middle line" means a straight line, parallel with the hoist edge of the flag, and dividing the fly into two equal parts.
The Commonwealth Star
Position of Centre Outer Diameter Inner Diameter Number of Points
On middle line (parallel with the hoist edge of flag) of Union Jack (produced), one-quarter width of flag from bottom edge of flag. Three-tenths of width of flag. Four-ninths of outer diameter. Seven.
Stars of the Southern Cross
Name Position of Centre Outer Diameter Inner Diameter Number of Points
Alpha Crucis On the middle line, one-sixth from bottom edge. One-seventh. Four-ninths. Seven.
Beta Crucis One-quarter from middle line, at right angles on left to a point on middle line one-sixteenth above centre of fly. One-seventh. Four-ninths. Seven.
Gamma Crucis On middle line one-sixth from top edge. One-seventh. Four-ninths. Seven.
Delta Crucis Two-ninths from middle line at right angles on right to a point one-fifteenth above a point on middle line one-sixteenth above centres of fly. One-seventh. Four-ninths. Seven.
Epsilon Crucis One-tenth from middle line at right angles on right to a point on middle line one twenty-fourth below centre of fly. One-twelfth. Four-ninths. Seven.
The Flags
Australian Flag.
Australian Red Ensign.
Notes to the Flags Act 1953
The Flags Act 1953 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 1, 1954 amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Act Number and Year Date of Assent Date of Commencement Application, Saving or Transitional Provisions
Flags Act 1953 1, 1954 14 Feb 1954 14 Apr 1954 (a) –
Flags Act 1954 58, 1954 6 Nov 1954 14 Apr 1954 –
Statue Law Revision Act 1973 216, 1973 19 Dec 1973 31 Dec 1973 Ss. 9(1) and 10
Flags Amendment Act 1981 9, 1981 25 Mar 1981 26 Jan 1982 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1981, No. G51, p.2) –
Flags Amendment Act 1998 2, 1998 24 Mar 1998 Royal Assent –
This Act was reserved for Her Majesty's pleasure on 12 December 1953, the Queen's Assent was given on 14 February 1954 and was made known to each House of the Parliament on 15 February 1954 and was made known to each House of Parliament on 15 February 1954. By a Proclamation dated 8 April 1954, the Queen's Assent was proclaimed in the Gazette on 14 April 1954 (see Gazette 1954, p. 1179).
ad.= added or inserted
am. = amended
rep. = repealed
rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision Affected How Affected
S. 2 am. No. 216, 1973
S. 3 rs. No. 9, 1981
Heading to Schedules rep. No. 9, 1981
Heading to First Schedules rep. No. 9, 1981
First Schedule am, No. 58, 1954; No. 216, 1973
Heading to Schedule 1 ad. No. 9, 1981
Schedule 1 am. No. 9, 1981
Heading to Second Schedule rep. No. 9, 1981