Australian Ensigns in Current Use

Last modified: 2021-09-25 by ian macdonald
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• Civil (merchant) ensign
• Government (Commonwealth) ensign and naval jack
• Naval ensign
• Royal Australian Air Force Ensign
• Australian Border Force's flag
• Civil Air Ensign of Australia

See also:

• Australia
• Index of Australian flag pages
• Australian Defence Force ensign

Civil (merchant) ensign

image by António Martins, 28 November 2005

AUSTRALIAN RED ENSIGN
Under shipping registration laws, the flag to be flown in Australian-registered merchant ships. Also flown in new-build warships during their pre-commissioning trials period. The Australian Red Ensign or the Australian National Flag may be flown optionally in all other non-Defence Australian ships, vessels and craft, but not both flags at the same time. Foreign vessels may fly either flag as a courtesy flag when berthed in Australian ports.
Jeff Thomson, 9 November 2019

See also:

• Red Ensign

Government (Commonwealth) ensign and naval jack

image by António Martins, 28 November 2005

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FLAG (AUSTRALIAN BLUE ENSIGN)
Under customs laws, the flag to be flown or displayed in Commonwealth ships and aircraft that have no entitlement to fly or display a particular agency ensign or insignia. Also flown as the jack of the Royal Australian Navy and as the ensign of Defence force owned, but civilian-crewed ships. Under shipping registration laws, the Australian National Flag or the Australian Red Ensign may be flown optionally in all other non-Defence Australian ships, vessels and craft, but not both flags at the same time. Foreign vessels may fly either flag as a courtesy flag when berthed in Australian ports.
Jeff Thomson, 9 November 2019

See also:

• Australian National Flag

Naval ensign

image by António Martins, 28 November 2005

AUSTRALIAN WHITE ENSIGN
Under customs laws, the flag to be flown in Royal Australian Navy-crewed ships. It is flown whether the Navy-crewed ship is commissioned or not.
Jeff Thomson, 9 November 2019

See also:

• Australian Naval Ensign

Royal Australian Air Force Ensign

image by Clay Moss, 27 Nov 2007

Named in customs laws in relation to it's RAAF roundel, which is the prescribed insignia for all Australian Defence Force aircraft (not just RAAF aircraft). This ensign's 1982 appointment under the Flags Act 1953 in effect legislatively constitutes the roundel.
Jeff Thomson, 9 November 2019

See also:

• Royal Australian Air Force Flags

Australian Border Force's flag

image by Jonathan Dixon, 17 July 2015

Under customs laws, the flag to be flown or displayed as an ensign by Australian Border Force ships and aircraft.
Jeff Thomson, 9 November 2019

See also:

• Australian Border Force

Civil Air Ensign of Australia

image by Clay Moss, 16 January 2009

Under civil aviation laws, the flag to be flown or displayed by the civil aviation authorities and the aviation service providers, including as a boat and air ensign. It's flying or display within Australia is otherwise unlawful unless written permission from the aviation authority is granted. It may however be flown by Australian aircraft engaged in international air navigation.
Jeff Thomson, 9 November 2019

See also:

• Civil Air Ensign