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Like most of the nations of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the flag of Australia uses the same colors as the flag of the United Kingdom - namely red, white, and blue. It actually incorporates the Union Jack in the upper left corner and then adds the Southern Cross to the field to the right and a seven pointed "Commonwealth Star" to the field below the Union Jack. Usually the stars are displayed on a blue field (the Blue Ensign) but there is a variant which uses a red field - the Australian Red Ensign. The Red Ensign is flown by maritime vessels. From 1901 to 1954 the Red Ensign was used as a civil flag by State and local governments, private organisations and individuals. During that time the Blue Ensign was reserved for use by the Commonwealth Government, the Australian Olympic team and the military as a saluting flag at all reviews and ceremonial parades. In 1941, Prime Minister Robert Menzies stated that there should be no restrictions on private citizens using the Blue Ensign on land and, in 1947, Prime Minister Ben Chifley reaffirmed this position but it wasn't until the passage of the Flags Act 1953 that the restriction on civilians flying the Blue Ensign was officially lifted after which use of the Red Ensign on land became a rarity.

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13y ago

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