GET TOGETHER ON AUSTRALIA DAY!

Australia Day allows us to show our pride in our country and to celebrate what brings us together.

All Australians are welcome to fly our flag every day of the year, but a special effort should be made for our national day.

Australia's flag is unique - not only is it the only one to fly over an entire continent, but it was the first in history to be designed through an open public competition.

 PROTOCOL FOR FLYING OUR FLAG:

 When flown on Australia territory the Australian national flag should:

• takes precedence over all national flags, and should not be flown in a position or size inferior to that of any other flag or ensign
• be raised briskly and lowered ceremoniously, while all present face the flag silently (those in uniform should salute)
• always be flown aloft and free as close as possible to the top of the flag mast, with the rope tightly secured
• raised no earlier than the first light and lowered no later than dusk
• illuminated if it is flown at night
• not be flown upside down, not even as a signal of distress.

DISPLAYING THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FLAG:

Whether the flag is displayed flat against a surface (either horizontally or vertically), on a staff, on a flag rope, or suspended vertically in the middle of a street, the canton should be in the uppermost left quarter as viewed by a person facing the flag.

In the case of the Australian national flag, the Union jack should be seen in the top left quarter of the flag. Even when the flag is displayed vertically, this rule must be followed, although to the casual observer the flag appears to be back to front. The reason for this is that the canton is the position of honour on the flag.

When the Australian national flag is displayed alone on a speaker’s platform, it should be flat against the wall or a staff on the right of the speaker as he or she faces the audience.

When displayed on flag rope (a ‘halyard’), the flag should be as close as possible to the top, with flag rope tight.

If the national flag is vertically suspended in an east-west street, the canton should be towards the north.

In a north-south street the canton should be towards the east.