{"id":"F2008L00196","name":"Proclamation under the Flags Act 1953 (Australian Defence Force Ensign)","slug":"proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72399,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L00196-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Proclamation under the Flags Act 1953 (Australian Defence Force Ensign)","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nProclamation under the Flags Act 1953\n\nFlags Act 1953\n\nI, PHILIP MICHAEL JEFFERY, Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, appoint the flag reproduced in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2 to be the ensign of the Australian Defence Force and to be known as the Australian Defence Force Ensign with effect from 1 October 2006.\n\nSigned and sealed with the  \nGreat Seal of Australia  \non 25 January 2008\n\nP. M. JEFFERY  \nGovernor‑General\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command\n\nJOHN FAULKNER\n\nCabinet Secretary\n\nSchedule 1 Australian Defence Force Ensign\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\nSchedule 2 Description of Australian Defence Force Ensign\n\nThe Australian Defence Force Ensign is divided vertically into thirds, the left third being dark blue (symbolising the Australian Navy), the centre third being red (symbolising the Australian Army), and the right third being light blue (symbolising the Australian Air Force). Superimposed centrally and intersecting the outer thirds, in gold, is the Joint Service emblem. The Joint Service emblem incorporates the emblems traditionally representing the 3 Services: an anchor (representing the Australian Navy); superimposed on the anchor are crossed swords (representing the Australian Army); and superimposed on the crossed swords is an eagle (representing the Australian Air Force). The seven‑pointed Commonwealth star rests on a wreath directly above, and supported by, the group of Service emblems, and a boomerang (symbolising Australia) is placed horizontally directly below the group of Service emblems supporting and unifying all the emblems.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The proclamation performs exactly the function authorised by section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 — appointing an ensign for a Commonwealth entity. There is no expansion beyond the original statutory purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative provision with straightforward command structure","No defined terms requiring interpretation","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the empowering section (section 5 of Flags Act 1953)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or temporal limitations beyond the fixed commencement date","Schedules contain purely descriptive/visual content rather than legal rules","Total length is approximately 250 words of operative text"],"plain_english_summary":"This proclamation establishes and names the \"Australian Defence Force Ensign\" as the ADF’s official flag, effective 1 October 2006, giving the Defence Force a single ensign for bases, ships, aircraft and ceremonies.\n\nThe design unifies Navy, Army and Air Force identity through service‑colours and gold symbols (anchor, crossed swords, eagle), alongside the Commonwealth star and a boomerang to represent Australia — formally representing the ADF as one organisation while honouring the three services."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The proclamation does not change the statutory scope of the Flags Act; it exercises the Act's power (s 5) to appoint an ensign. It adds a specific designated flag for the Australian Defence Force but does not create new regulatory obligations, amend the Act, or alter who may exercise the appointment power."},"complexity_factors":["Simple legal form: single statutory proclamation under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 rather than new primary legislation or regulation.","Descriptive schedules: visual reproduction (Schedule 1) plus textual blazon (Schedule 2) create minimal interpretive detail about colours and emblems.","Limited normative effect: creates designation/recognition rather than regulatory duties, penalties, or complex administrative processes.","Fixed effective date and formal signatures reduce procedural uncertainty.","Minor ambiguity risk in descriptive terms (e.g. \"dark blue\"/\"light blue\", exact emblem proportions) that could require design-standard guidance for implementation."],"plain_english_summary":"This proclamation, made under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, appoints the flag reproduced in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2 to be the Australian Defence Force Ensign, effective 1 October 2006. The Governor‑General, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, makes the appointment (s 5).\n\nThe change governs which flag the ADF and related public agencies use and display. Compliance and administrative costs fall on Defence and public bodies that adopt the ensign; private parties are only affected if they use official insignia."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign","history":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign/history","analysis":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-defence-force-ensign/documents"}}