Flag Adopted: 14 July 1995 (in use since 29 May 1992)
Flag Proportion: 2:3

The Torres Strait Islander flag is attributed to the late Bernard Namok of Thursday Island.

The flag is emblazoned with a white Dari (headdress) which is a symbol of Torres Strait Islanders. The white five pointed star beneath it symbolises the five major island groups and the navigational importance of stars to these seafaring people.

The green stripes represent the land, the black stripes represent the people, and the blue the sea. The flag as a whole symbolises the unity of all Torres Strait Islanders.

As with the Aboriginal Flag, the Torres Strait Islander Flag is beginning to be flown more widely and gaining more recognition as indigenous issues gain more prominence in Australia.

The Federal Government initiated steps in 1994 to give the flag legal recognition. After a period of public consultation, the Government decided in July 1995 that the flag should be proclaimed a "Flag of Australia" under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953. The flag was so proclaimed by the Governor General of Australia, William Hayden, on 14 July 1995.

References

• Australian Flags
  Department of Administrative Services, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1995.
• Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia
  David Horton (Editor), Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra, 1994.

Information from the AUSFLAG Website: http://www.ausflag.com.au