ES Knowledge Base - Australian Flags

Knowledge Base Rules - This expert system uses Tested Certainty Factors calculated from user test data. [# Tests = 681]
#	Rule	Notes	Image
1	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is sky blue THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.54) the Australian Air Force Ensign.	The Air Force Ensign is for use by the Royal Australian Air Force at its facilities in Australia and overseas. The design of the Air Force Ensign has been changed twice since the Royal Australian Air Force was established in 1921. The RAAF used the ensign of the Royal Air Force of Britain until 1949, whereupon the Southern Cross and Commonwealth star were added to the ensign and the British roundel (military aircraft insignia) was moved to the lower fly. During the Vietnam War the RAAF ceased using the British roundel on its aircraft, as Britain was not involved in the Vietnam war and the continued use of the British roundel on Australian military aircraft highlighted its inappropriateness. The central red circle of the British roundel was substituted with a leaping red kangaroo to create a new Australian roundel. The Air Force Ensign with its British roundel, however, was not altered until 1982. The new Air Force ensign with the Australian roundel was proclaimed as an official Australian flag under Section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 on 6 May 1982.
2	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is blue and yellow THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.67) the flag of the Australian Capital Territory.	The Australian Capital Territory was founded as a Federal Territory on 1 January 1911, and attained self-government on 4 March 1989, however until recently it did not have a flag of its own. The flag above replaces one of similar design, with a ochre-red background that had been been used as the City flag of Canberra. The flag for the Australian Capital Territory was adopted by the ACT Legislative Assembly on 25 March 1993. Competitions were held in 1988 and 1992 in which artists and other interested ACT residents provided a large range of designs for a proposed ACT flag. Some common features from these entries were incorporated into four design options and these were presented by the ACT Legislative Assembly to the ACT community for its consideration in February and March of 1993. The flag above, designed by Ivo Ostyn, was endorsed as the most popular design. The flag uses Canberra's city colours of blue and gold. In the centre of the gold fly is a modified form of the arms of the City of Canberra, whilst the Southern Cross appears in the blue bar at the hoist.
3	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is white THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.61) the Australian Naval Ensign.	The Naval Ensign is a white ensign version of the Australian National Flag, for use by official Government naval defence forces (i.e. the Royal Australian Navy) and on RAN on-shore establishments. From the time the Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911 until 1967, all its ships flew the White Ensign of the UK, i.e. the Royal Navy Ensign. In March 1967, the Holt Government adopted a new design, one consistent with the design of the other two Australian Flags but with a white field. This change was made at the request of the British Government which was concerned about the possibility of attacks on Royal Navy vessels near Vietnam, though the United Kingdom was not involved in the Vietnam War.
4	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is red THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.66) the Australian Red Ensign.	he Australian Civil Ensign, or Australian Red Ensign, is simply a red version of the Australian National flag. It is for use only at sea and officially never on land, but can be used by private citizens. At sea, it is the only flag allowable for merchant ships registered in Australia under the Navigation and Shipping Act 1912 and The Shipping Registration Act 1981. Pleasure craft, however, may fly either the Red Ensign or the National Flag. The history of the Red Ensign is intertwined with the history of the Australian National flag. From 1901 to 1954 the Red Ensign was in practice, used as Australia's Civil Flag, i.e. the flag to be flown by private citizens on land. The Blue Ensign was for Government use only, reflecting British practice with its ensigns. The design of the Australian Red Ensign was always kept in step with the Blue Ensign (i.e. with respect to the number of points on the stars, etc.) but there was often public confusion about which was the `correct' flag to fly. Many thought the choice was merely one of fashion or preference. In 1941, Australia's Prime Minister Robert Menzies added to this confusion by directing that there should be no restriction on private citizens flying the Blue Ensign, though most people continued to use the red ensign. This Government consent was reaffirmed by Prime Minister Ben Chifley in February 1947. However, the confusion really wasn't ended until the Flags Act 1953 (enacted in 1954) gave legal effect to this directive, with the Red Ensign becoming reserved as the Civil Ensign.
5	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is navy blue AND above the Southern Cross there is a Crown THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.48) the state flag of Victoria.	The flag of Victoria is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts the Southern Cross surmounted by the St Edwards Crown. The stars in the Southern Cross range from five to eight points. As in Queensland, the design of the flag is changed in accordance with the style of Crown chosen by the reigning monarch, with the last such change occurring in 1953, after Queen Elizabeth II adopted the St Edwards Crown upon her Coronation in 1952.
6	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is navy blue AND above the Southern Cross there is no crown THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.48) the Australian National Flag.	in vexillological terms, the Australian flag is a defaced British blue ensign (the State Ensign of the United Kingdom). In the upper hoist (canton) of the flag is the Union Flag (i.e. the State and Civil Flag of the United Kingdom, popularly called the Union Jack). On the fly are 5 white stars, representing the Southern Cross, a constellation of stars generally only visible in the southern hemisphere. Each of these stars has 7 points except for the smallest star which has only five. Directly below the Union Flag is a large 7 pointed white star called the Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia on 1 January 1901. There is one point for each of the six original states, and one to represent all of Australia's internal and external territories.
7	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is black and brown THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.69) the flag of the Northern Territory.	The Northern Territory was founded as a Federal Territory on 1 January 1911, but its first flag was not hoisted until self government was attained on 1 July 1978. The flag was designed by Robert Ingpen, a Victorian illustrator, and incorporates both the Territorian colours and floral emblem. In the centre of the fly is a stylised Sturt's Desert Rose with seven petals on an ochre field. At the hoist is the Southern Cross in white on a black panel. Note that the Southern Cross is of the Victorian form, with the number of points on the stars ranging from five to eight.
8	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is blue and green THEN the flag is probably (Cf=0.70) the Christmas Island Flag.	The flag of Christmas Island was unofficially adopted in 1986 after being chosen the winner in a competition for a flag for the territory. It was designed by Tony Couch of Sydney, Australia. The flag was made official on Australia Day, 2002 when the administrator of the territory, Bill Taylor, presented the flag to the Christmas Island Shire.The flag of Christmas Island was unofficially adopted in 1986 after being chosen the winner in a competition for a flag for the territory. It was designed by Tony Couch of Sydney, Australia. The flag was made official on Australia Day, 2002 when the administrator of the territory, Bill Taylor, presented the flag to the Christmas Island Shire.
9	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the symbol on the fly of the flag looks like a lion THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.78) the state flag of Tasmania.	The flag of Tasmania is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts a red lion passant on a white disc. The exact symbolism of the badge is unknown, other than to indicate historical ties with England. The badge was approved by the British Colonial office in 1875 and the design of the Tasmanian flag has remained unchanged since then, save for a slight alteration in the rendition of the lion in 1975 when the flag was officially proclaimed as the "Tasmanian Flag".
10	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the symbol on the fly of the flag looks like a cross AND the colour of the cross is light blue THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.71) the state flag of Queensland.	The flag of Queensland is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts a light blue Maltese cross with a St Edwards Crown in the centre of the cross, all on a white disc. The original badge was designed by the then Queensland Colonial Secretary and Treasurer William Hemmant. According to Frank Cayley's book Flag of Stars no one knows why the Maltese cross was chosen. The common assumption that the badge was inspired by Britain's most famous award for bravery, the Victoria Cross, has not survived historical examination. The design of the Royal Crown in the state badge is altered whenever there is a change in the style of crown chosen by the reigning Monarch. The last such change occurred in 1953 after Queen Elizabeth II adopted the St Edwards Crown upon her Coronation in 1952.
11	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the symbol on the fly of the flag looks like a cross AND the colour of the cross is red THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.71) the state flag of New South Wales.	The flag of New South Wales is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts the cross of St George in red on a white disc. At the extremity of each arm of the cross is an eight pointed gold star, and in the centre of the cross is a golden lion passant guardant. The flag was adopted in response to British Admiralty criticisms that the previous flag was too similar to that of Victoria. The state badge of New South Wales was designed by James Barnet, the Colonial Architect, and Captain Francis Hixson, retired of the Royal Navy who was president of the Marine Board. No meaning of the design was given when it was submitted to London for approval, although it may have been a simplified version of what was then the semi-official arms of NSW. Historical Flags
12	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the symbol on the fly of the flag looks like a bird AND the bird is a black swan THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.72) the state flag of Western Australia.	The flag of Western Australia is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts the native Black Swan on a yellow disc, with the swan swimming towards the hoist. A variant to this design renders the swan more artistically and includes water ripples. The black swan has long been a symbol of Western Australia. The original colony was in fact called the Swan River Settlement, and in 1870 Governor Weld suggested that the black swan would be the obvious choice of badge for the colony - as it "has been always considered as its special badge, or cognizance."
13	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is a Union Jack present AND the symbol on the fly of the flag looks like a bird AND the bird is magpie THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.72) the state flag of South Australia.	The flag of South Australia is a British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge. The badge depicts a white-backed piping shrike (magpie) with wings outstretched on a yellow disc. The state badge is believed to have been designed by Robert Craig of the Adelaide School of Arts. The impetus for a new state badge appears to date back to 1901 in response to the former British Colonies becoming states of the Australian federation. Also, the former badge was extremely elaborate and no doubt proved to be cumbersome and difficult to reproduce on a regular basis.
14	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is green and white vertical stripes THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.77) the Norfolk Island flag.	The flag of Norfolk Island was adopted on 17 January 1980. It depicts the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) in a central white stipe. The flag's geometry is a triband. It is similar to the flag of Canada (upon which it was based), with its use of only two colours, and incorporating a prominent local floral symbol in the middle. As with the Canadian flag it has a 1:2 ratio. The central stripe is wider than the two outer stripes, the ratio being 7:9:7. The flag bears a striking resemblance to the flag of Lebanon and Nigeria.
15	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is blue and green horizontal stripes THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.77) Torres Strait Islands.	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.
16	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is not visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is red and black horizontal sections THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.78) the Aboriginal Flag.	The Aboriginal Flag was designed by Harold Thomas, an artist and an Aboriginal, in 1971. The flag was designed to be an eye-catching rallying symbol for the Aboriginal people and a symbol of their race and identity. The black represents the Aboriginal people, the red the earth and their spiritual relationship to the land, and the yellow the sun, the giver of life. In the late 1960s, Aborigines stepped up their campaign for indigenous land rights through protest marches, demonstrations, banners and posters. The protests increased in the early 1970s and Harold Thomas noticed they were often outnumbered by non-Aborigines with their own banners and placards. He decided they needed to be more visible and the idea of the flag was born. The Aboriginal flag was first raised in Victoria Square in Adelaide on National Aboriginal Day in 1971, but was adopted nationally by Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in 1972 after it was flown above the Aboriginal "Tent Embassy" outside of the old Parliament House in Canberra. Mr Thomas has often been asked to design a new Australian flag, but he says the design of the Aboriginal flag "sprung from passionate times" and that his inspiration could not necessarily "be repeated" for a new Australian flag. Mr Thomas says he would prefer to see something different for a new Australian flag.
17	IF on the flag the Southern Cross is visible AND on the flag there is no Union Jack present AND the field of the flag is blue THEN the flag is most probably (Cf=0.71) the Eureka Flag.	The Eureka Flag is a design which features: a dark blue field a horizontal stripe and a vertical line crossing it ; and 5 eight pointed stars, representing the Crux Australis constellation. The design was first used for the war flag of the Eureka Rebellion of 1854 at Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. Rebels swore an oath to the flag as a symbol of defiance at its first flying at Bakery Hill and 22 were killed at the Eureka Stockade defending the original flag (now held at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery). The flag design has gained wider notability in Australian culture due to its adoption by radicals as a symbol of democracy, and general purpose symbol of protest, mainly in relation to a variety of anti-establishment, non-conformist causes. It is listed as an object of state heritage significance on the Victorian Heritage Register and was named as a Victorian Icon by the National Trust in 2006.

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Expert System - Australian Flags by McGoo Software