Australian South Sea Islander flag

The official Australian South Sea Islander flag initially designed in consultation with the ASSI community and executive of the then Australian South Sea Islanders United Council (ASSIUC) in 1994. The flag was formally adopted in 1998 by ASSIUC. There was a recognised need for a flag that would stand with distinction alongside other flags and represent the ASSI community. That was no small consideration at a time when the condition of the Australian South Sea Islanders was beginning to attract international attention – the Sydney ASSIUC President having addressed the United Nations Special Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva in 1994 – followed by the belated recognition by the Commonwealth Government.

The flags design by choice compliments the national Australian flag in sizing and representation. The colour scheme incorporates colours resonant to people with forebears of which the three quarters of the trade were taken from the 83 islands of Vanuatu and are represented through colours green, gold and black, a third of the trade was from the Solomon Islands represented with blue, white, green. The overall flag is inclusive other parts of the South Pacific affected by Blackbirding as we are connected through the ocean blue and white stars.