Tasmania’s Devonport City Council has unanimously endorsed a Notice of Motion affirming its support for the Australian National Flag and committing to a series of initiatives in recognition of Australian National Flag Day on 3 September.
In a statement, the Council said it determined “to reaffirm its recognition of the Australian National Flag as a unifying emblem of all Australians and a symbol of our sovereign nation”.
It follows the Notice of Motion brought forward by Councillor, Leigh Murphy, at Council’s August meeting.
On 3 September 2025:
- The Australian National Flag will be flown on all Council-owned flagpoles within the municipality;
- The Market Square multi-purpose screen will feature a prominent digital display of the flag throughout the day, alongside details pertaining to the history and significance of the flag;
- Where the Australian flag is not flown daily, it will be raised on its own to mark the occasion, while in locations where it already flies daily alongside other flags, existing practices will continue.
Council is encouraging the community to reflect on the history and meaning of the flag.
“Australian National Flag Day, celebrated on 3 September annually, commemorates the first time the Australian National Flag – then known as the Commonwealth Blue Ensign – was officially flown in 1901 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne,” the Council stated.
“The design was selected from 32,823 public competition entries in the year of Federation.
“The flag remains a powerful reminder of the contributions of past and present generations, and of our shared national story of unity, democracy, and heritage.”
