{"id":"F2008L00207","name":"Proclamation under the Flags Act 1953 (Australian White Ensign)","slug":"proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":72409,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2008L00207-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 White 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 Navy and to be known as the Australian White Ensign with effect from 1 January 2008.\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 White Ensign\n\n![](image.002.png)\n\nSchedule 2 Description of Australian White Ensign\n\nThe Australian White Ensign is a white flag with a Union Jack occupying the upper quarter next to the staff, with a large dark blue seven‑pointed Commonwealth star in the centre of the lower quarter next to the staff and directly below the centre of the St George Cross in the Union Jack, and five dark blue stars (representing the Southern Cross) in the fly or half of the flag further from the staff.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This proclamation serves exactly its original intended purpose under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, which is to formally appoint flags as Australian ensigns. It has not expanded beyond this narrow, specific function."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short document (under 300 words)","No defined terms section","No cross-references to other legislation beyond a single citation of section 5 of the Flags Act 1953","Simple, direct operative clause with no conditional logic or exceptions","Single purpose: appoint one flag with one name for one purpose","Visual description in plain English rather than technical vexillological specifications"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a formal proclamation (an official government announcement) made by the Governor-General in 2008 under the Flags Act 1953. It officially appoints the **Australian White Ensign** as the flag of the Royal Australian Navy.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Creates the official legal status for a specific flag design to be used by Australia's Navy\n- Describes exactly what the flag looks like: a white flag with the Union Jack in the top corner near the flagpole, a large blue seven-pointed Commonwealth star below it, and the five stars of the Southern Cross on the outer half\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Primarily the Royal Australian Navy, which must use this ensign (a special flag flown on ships to show nationality)\n- Also relevant to anyone manufacturing, selling, or displaying official Navy flags\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Before this, Australian naval ships flew the British White Ensign. This proclamation formally establishes a distinctly Australian naval flag, reflecting Australia's independent naval identity while maintaining historical links through the Union Jack\n- It ensures there's a legally recognised, consistent design for the Navy's official flag"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Proclamation expands the set of flags authorised under the Flags Act 1953 by appointing the Australian White Ensign as the ensign of the Australian Navy. Mechanically, it alters which flag the Navy may lawfully use by adding this named design to the Act's operative materials (section 5; Schedules 1–2)."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrow legal action: the instrument performs one clear function—appointing a flag as the Navy's ensign (Proclamation text).","Statutory source dependency: power exercised under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, so interpretation depends on that statutory provision (section 5).","Technical descriptive content: Schedules 1–2 contain precise visual and positional terms (e.g. \"upper quarter next to the staff\", \"centre of the lower quarter\", \"fly\") that could require technical or specialist interpretation for manufacturing or enforcement (Schedules 1–2).","Low procedural complexity: signed and sealed by the Governor‑General and attested by the Cabinet Secretary; no subordinate rule‑making, consultation, or transitional arrangements included (signature block).","Limited compliance burden and discretion: the proclamation prescribes design and name but does not create offences, fees or regulatory regimes within its text, so administrative impact is constrained to adoption and use by affected bodies (Proclamation text; Schedules 1–2)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Proclamation, made by the Governor‑General under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, appoints the flag shown in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2 to be the ensign of the Australian Navy, effective 1 January 2008. It gives that specific flag design legal status and a formal name (\"Australian White Ensign\"). The decision is taken at Commonwealth executive level and mechanically changes which flag the Navy may lawfully use as its ensign (section 5; Schedules 1–2)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign","history":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign/history","analysis":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/proclamation-under-the-flags-act-1953-australian-white-ensign/documents"}}