Jack of the Flag

The Sun-Herald, May 3, 1998.

By Alex Mitchell, Olympic City Notebook

For the record, a 1994 Newspoll of Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallists found that a majority were in favour of Australia becoming a republic and a new flag. The survey revealed 53 per cent favoured a republic and 59 per cent wanted a new flag.

Swimming legend Murray Rose said "I think it would be fitting if we were able to unveil a new flag when we host the Olympics in the year 2000." All the polls show that a majority of Australians agree with him.

On the SOCOG board, there is a clear majority in favour of a new flag stripped of England's Union Jack, known throughout the former empire as the "Butcher's Apron".