Australia

mancomu-nidad de australia

SÍMBOLOS

Bandera

The Australian National Flag was first flown on 3 September 1901, when the then Prime Minister Edmund Barton announced the winning design and, since 1996, [Australia has] observed Australian National Flag Day on 3 September each year.

Britain’s flag, the Union Jack, appears on the top left quarter of the Australian National Flag to acknowledge the history of British settlement in Australia. The Union Jack, the commonly used name for the Union Flag, is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and has its own history.

The Commonwealth Star, symbolising Australia’s federal system of government, appears on the Australian National Flag below the Union Jack. This star has 7 points which symbolise the 6 Australian states, with the seventh point added in 1908 to recognise Australia’s territories.

Four seven-pointed stars arranged in a cross, together with a smaller five-pointed star appear on the right-hand side (the ‘fly’) of the flag to represent the Southern Cross. The stars of the Southern Cross are named after the first 5 letters of the Greek alphabet in order of brightness: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon CrucisAlpha Crucis is really 2 stars and these can be seen apart with a small telescope on a dark night. Beta Crucis is a brilliant white star and Gamma Crucis is a red giant.

Normativa de uso.

The Australian National Flag, or a representation of the flag, may be used for commercial or advertising purposes without formal permission (with the exception of imports and trade marks), subject to the following guidelines:

  • The flag should be used in a dignified manner and be reproduced completely and accurately.
  • The image of the flag should not be covered with other words, illustrations or objects.
  • All symbolic parts of the flag should be identifiable, such as the Union Jack, the Southern Cross and the Commonwealth Star.

You don’t need to seek formal permission to use the Australian National Flag for commercial purposes. Permission does need to be sought to import goods to which there is applied a representation of a flag of the Commonwealth. To seek approval for the importation of goods bearing an image of the Australian National Flag, or if there is any doubt about the appropriateness of a suggested application, you may contact the Parliamentary and Government Branch for further information.

Colour references for the Australian National Flag are:

  • Blue: PANTONE® 280, and
  • Red: PANTONE® 185.

Escudo

Symbols of Australia’s 6 states are woven together into the Coat of Arms with a kangaroo and an emu standing on either side of the central shield.

The central shield features the black swan of Western Australia, the lion and stars of New South Wales, Victoria’s Southern Cross, the Maltese Cross and Crown of Queensland, the walking lion of Tasmania and the piping shrike of South Australia.

The border of the shield symbolises Federation, which was the union of the states into the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.

The Commonwealth Star appears in gold at the top of the Coat of Arms and also appears in white on the national flag. A wreath of gold and blue appears under the Commonwealth Star. These colours are known as the livery colours of the Coat of Arms.

The supporters of the shield (the native animals chosen by Australians to hold the shield) are 2 of our best known wildlife symbols, the kangaroo and the emu. Though chosen because they are familiar and uniquely Australian creatures found in almost all states and territories, some say these animals were chosen because of the common belief that neither can move backwards easily, reflecting a nation’s intent on moving forward.

Australia’s floral emblem, the golden wattle, frames the Coat of Arms, with a scroll reading “Australia”.

Normativa de uso.

The Coat of Arms appears on Australian Government documents, publications and other property, representing Australian Government ownership and authority. The design is the property of the Australian Government.

Our international sports and representative teams may seek Australian Government permission to wear the Coat of Arms on their uniforms. Permission may also be given to use the Coat of Arms in educational publications. Requests to use the Coat of Arms are assessed on a case by case basis.

Permission to use the Coat of Arms is rarely granted to private individuals and organisations.

Requests for permission to use or reproduce the Coat of Arms should be directed to:

Parliamentary and Government Branch
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

PO Box 6500
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: 02 6271 5601
Email: nationalsymbols@pmc.gov.au

Himno

Peter McCormick produced the words and music of Advance Australia Fair in 1878.

Although the tune was used on some major occasions in Australia’s history, such as the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in January 1901 and at the inauguration of the national capital in 1913, a hundred years would pass before Peter McCormick’s patriotic inspiration of the 1870s became the song which now identifies Australia to the world.

In 1977, a national poll was held to find a national song. Of the 4 tunes offered, Advance Australia Fair was the preferred choice of 43 per cent of voters, with Waltzing Matilda preferred by 28 per cent of those voting. God Save the Queen, which was the national anthem in 1977, found support with 18 per cent of voters and just under 10 per cent of voters supported Song of Australia, a patriotic song by Carl Unger.

Finally on 19 April 1984 Peter McCormick’s Advance Australia Fair with slightly amended words was proclaimed as Australia’s National Anthem.

On 1 January 2021, the words of the Australian National Anthem were changed from ‘For we are young and free’ to ‘For we are one and free’ by proclamation of the Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

Sobre la ejecución del himno.

The Australian National Anthem is an important national symbol of Australia and should be treated with respect and dignity. All Australians are encouraged to sing the Australian National Anthem (the Anthem) and these protocols are to assist you when singing or performing the Anthem at a ceremony or public event.

  1. Traditionally, only the first verse of the Anthem is used but both verses can be used.
  2. When the Anthem is played at a ceremony or public event, it is customary to stand.
  3. The event organiser can choose when the Anthem is played during an event.
  4. The tune or tempo of the Anthem should not be modified and alternative words should not be used.
  5. Any musical instrument may be incorporated into a performance of the Anthem.
  6. The Anthem should be performed in English.
  7. Individuals or organisations can perform “Advance Australia Fair” in a language other than English, but this should not be represented as a version of the Anthem. As a result, protocols do not apply to its use. For example, it is not necessary to stand when the song is played.
  8. If “Advance Australia Fair” is performed in a language other than English, along with the Anthem, the Anthem should be played first.
  9. When the Anthem is played at the same event as the anthem of another nation, you should play the anthem of the visiting nation first.

Letra y música.

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Una versión del himno de Australia puede escucharse aquí, cortesía del Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australian Government).

Otros

Australia’s floral emblem

There are more than 1,000 different species of wattle in Australia, of which some are in flower every month of the year. Wattles flourish in environments which range from the humid tropics to dry deserts and from the coast to the Snowy Mountains. Whilst there are many wattle species in Australia, the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is recognised as Australia’s floral emblem.

There are no legislative requirements surrounding use of the floral emblem.

Australia’s national colours

Australia’s national colours of green and gold are also those of the golden wattle in flower.

  • Gold – the symbol of Australia’s sporting victories, and the colour of our mineral wealth, beaches, the golden fleece of Australian wool and the harvests of golden grains across every state.
  • Green – the colour of the Australian forests, gum trees, pastures and the endless horizons of growing crops.

The colour references are:

  • Green: PANTONE® 348C, and
  • Gold: PANTONE® 116C.

Australia’s national gemstone

On 23 July 1993, the then Governor-General, His Excellency the Honourable Bill Hayden AC, proclaimed the opal as Australia’s national gemstone.

Australia’s opal fields are bigger than those found in the rest of the world combined, and support many communities in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

Australian opals are valued for their stability as well as brilliance. Australia is the only place in the world where sedimentary opal has been discovered as well as opalised animal fossils. Most opals found outside Australia are associated with volcanic rocks and have a high water content.


PRECEDENCIAS

As established by the new Table of Precedence for the Commonwealth of Australia on 31st of August, 2022, which updated the former Table issued on 5th of October, 1982:

  1. The Governor-General.
  2. (a)   The Governor of the State.

(b)   Governors of the other States according to the date of appointment.

Note: A Lieutenant-Governor of a State who is not also Chief Justice shall, when not administering the Government of the State, have, within the State, precedence immediately after the Chief Justice of the State.

(c)     The Administrator of the Northern Territory within their own Territory.

  1. The Prime Minister of Australia.
  2. The Premier within the Premier’s own State. The Chief Minister within the Chief Minister’s own Territory.
  3. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives according to the date of appointment; if they are appointed at the same time, the President shall have precedence.
  4. The Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
  5. (a)     Ambassadors and High Commissioners according to the date of presentation of their Letters of Credence or Commission, or, in the case of High Commissioners who do not present Letters of Commission, according to their date of arrival in Canberra.

(b)      Chargés d’Affaires en titre according to the date of presentation of their Letters of Credence.

(c)      Chargés d’Affaires ad interim and Acting High Commissioners according to the date of assumption of duties.

  1. Members of the Federal Executive Council under summons.
  2. The Administrator of the Northern Territory.
  3. The Leader of the Opposition.
  4. (a)     Former Governors-General according to the date of leaving office.

(b)     Former Prime Ministers according to the date of leaving office. 

(c)     Former Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia according to the date of leaving office.

  1. The Premiers of the States according to the population of their respective States and then the Chief Ministers of the Territories according to the population of their respective Territories.
  2. The Lord Mayor within their jurisdiction.
  3. Justices of the High Court of Australia according to seniority.
  4. (a)     The Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.

(b)     The Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia (Division 1).

(c)     The Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia (Division 2).

  1. The Chief Justice of the State or Territory Supreme Court and, after them, the other Chief Justices of Supreme Courts according to seniority.
  2. Privy Counsellors.
  3. The Chief of the Defence Force.
  4. Chief Judges of State and Territory Courts according to the respective dates of first appointment to any one of those offices (includes Magistrate and County Courts).
  5. Members of the Parliament of the Commonwealth.
  6. (a)     The President of the Fair Work Commission.

(b)     The President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

  1. Other Judges of Federal, State and Territory Courts according to the respective dates of first appointment to any of those offices.
  2. Lord Mayors of jurisdictions according to population.
  3. Heads of religious communities according to the date of assuming office in Australia.
  4. Presiding Officer or Officers of the State legislature, then, the Presiding Officers of the other State legislatures according to the date of their appointment and, after them, the Presiding Officers of Territory legislatures according to the date of their appointment.
  5. Members of the State Executive Council under summons to the Council, then the Members of the other State Executive Councils according to the population of their States and, after them, the Ministers of the Australian Capital Territory appointed under the Self Government Act and the Members of the Executive Council of the Northern Territory.
  6. The Leader of the Opposition in the State, then the Leaders of the Opposition in the other States according to the population of their States and, after them, the Leaders of the Opposition in the Territories according to the population of their Territories.
  7. Members of the Federal Executive Council not under summons.
  8. Members of the State or Territory legislature, then members of the other State and/or Territory legislatures according to the population of their State or Territory.
  9. The Permanent Heads of Departments of the Australian Public Service and their peers and the Chiefs of the Australian Navy, Army, and
    Air Force, according to the date of first appointment to an office within this group.
  10. Consuls-General, Consuls and Vice-Consuls according to the date on which recognition was granted.
  11. Recipients of awards and honours at Knight Bachelor and above according to The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards, as notified by the Governor-General from time to time, and recipients of equivalent awards according to the date on which the award was announced.

Note: A person acting on behalf of any of the foregoing shall enjoy the precedence of the person for whom he/she is acting with the understanding that, where there is more than one person in the class the person acting on behalf of another will take the precedence after other persons in that class who are attending in their own right.

A couple who both have a precedence entitlement shall enjoy the precedence of the spouse/partner with the higher precedence, and a person without an entitlement shall enjoy the precedence of his or her spouse/partner.


LEGISLACIÓN

Flags Act 1953, amended by Statute Law Revision Act 2008, Flags Amendment Act 1998, Flags Amendment Act 1981, Statute Law Revision Act 1973, Flags Act 1954. Disponibles aquí.

Table of Precedence for the Commonwealth of Australia, Commonwealth Government Gazette 31/08/2022 – C2022G00834. Disponible aquí.


DOCUMENTOS

Para facilidad de consulta, se anexan los siguientes documentos en pdf:

  • Booklet con los símbolos nacionales del país. Disponible aquí.
  • Tabla con orden de precedencia actualizado a 31 de Agosto de 2022. Disponible aquí.

ENLACES DE INTERÉS

  • N/A