Keiron wants to ditch the Poms' Union Jack

GOODNA republican Keiron Butler has come up with a new design for the Australian flag that he created "to please all of the people, not just some of the people".

The Aboriginal colours of black, yellow and red are in, as are the traditional green and gold Australian colours. The Southern Cross remains, but the Union Jack is out.

Mr Butler said his design showed "respect for Aboriginal culture" and was a step towards true reconciliation.

"The European culture has been here for 230 years, but the Aboriginals have been here for tens of thousands of years and we should respect that," he said.

Mr Butler said green and gold had always signified Australia.

"Whether it be the boxing kangaroo or our sporting teams like the Kangaroos and Wallabies, they are green and gold," he said.

"Then you have the green and gold on our cricketers' cap. They have always been our colours."

The Southern Cross remains because of its cultural significance in the Southern Hemisphere and its historical links to Australia. It was a symbol of the Eureka Stockade, figures in our national anthem and has long been significant in Aboriginal astronomy.

"The Southern Cross is something that you can't take away from the flag," Mr Butler said. He intends to submit his flag to the Australian Olympic Committee, Aboriginal groups and republican organisations for perusal.

"I designed the flag in conjunction with my brother Barry who is an artist. It is a concept we came up with to please all of the people, not just some of the people.

"The only thing we are getting rid of is the Union Jack. The monarchy has nothing to do with our country. They are thousands of miles away. The English may have settled this country, killed a lot of Aboriginals and brought some convicts here, but they have done nothing for us.

"Why should we be ruled by some uppity-nosed people in England? I've got nothing against them, but I don't think we should be under a queen or king. We should have a president.

"I have always been a republican. Even as a kid at Catholic school I refused to stand up when they played God Save the Queen... and the nuns used to cane me."

Mr Butler is a proud Australian. His father fought in the Second World War and his great uncles in the First World War.

"But they fought for Australia. They never went to fight for a king," he said.