Proclamation under the Flags Act 1953

Flags Act 1953

I, PHILIP MICHAEL JEFFERY, Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and noting the fact that the flag reproduced in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2 is recognised as the flag of the Torres Strait Islander people of Australia and a flag of significance to the Australian nation generally, appoint that flag, under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953, to be the flag of the Torres Strait Islander people of Australia and to be known as the Torres Strait Islander Flag with effect from 1 January 2008.

Signed and sealed with the
Great Seal of Australia
on 25 January 2008

P. M. JEFFERY
Governor‑General

By His Excellency’s Command

JOHN FAULKNER

Cabinet Secretary

Schedule 1 Torres Strait Islander Flag

Schedule 2 Description of Torres Strait Islander Flag

The Torres Strait Islander Flag is divided horizontally into three stripes by thin black lines (symbolising the Torres Strait Islander people), the upper and lower stripes being green (symbolising the land) and the central stripe being blue (symbolising the sea).  Superimposed centrally on the blue stripe are a white dhari (a headdress, symbolising the Torres Strait Islander people) and, enclosed by it, a five‑pointed white star (symbolising both a star used for navigation by the Torres Strait Islander people and the 5 Torres Strait Islander groups, its colour symbolising peace).