07-02-2005, 04:13 PM
Hi! 
I thought that flag would give you an interesting search! Hope you had fun, that was the intention anyway :-)
I presume you got the neo nazi stuff from http://www.ausflag.com.au/flags/eureka.html ?
Unfortunately I personally haven't ever seen it for that use, but what its basically used for today is a symbol of rebellion/free speech against percieved unfair majorities, traditionally now by the union movements.
I haven't seen it around lately, however it is likely to pop its head up again soon because the Liberal party (Large L "Liberal"= Conservative... go figure) has just gained a majority in the upper house of parliament.
In Australia's Westminster system, like the House of Lords in the UK, the upper house acts as a "check" on the government formed in the "lower" house. Now with a supreme majority and changes to industrial relations laws we are likely to see the flag brought out again as a show of defiance by oppressed groups against the government.
As you can see, because of the flag's nature, it is often used by repressed (or at least percieved repressed) groups. Thus, it has a large significance in our history as you can see on that link above, however also because of that nature it has the potential to be abused in the name of "repressed" groups that think using the flag in such a manner would draw attention to their cause.
However the flag because of that nature is also a symbol of free speech and part of the Australian "battler" spirit.
There was talk a while back about somehow incorporating it into the Australia flag if we converted to a republic ( which we didnt =( ) however the notion was rejected because of that controversial nature and the fact that the flag would, incorporated into a national emblem, then be representing the very thing that it was created to attempt to overcome (the majority).
Anyway... I don't know a lot about it. Ill read up a bit and tell you more if you would like.
I thought that flag would give you an interesting search! Hope you had fun, that was the intention anyway :-)I presume you got the neo nazi stuff from http://www.ausflag.com.au/flags/eureka.html ?
Unfortunately I personally haven't ever seen it for that use, but what its basically used for today is a symbol of rebellion/free speech against percieved unfair majorities, traditionally now by the union movements.
I haven't seen it around lately, however it is likely to pop its head up again soon because the Liberal party (Large L "Liberal"= Conservative... go figure) has just gained a majority in the upper house of parliament.
In Australia's Westminster system, like the House of Lords in the UK, the upper house acts as a "check" on the government formed in the "lower" house. Now with a supreme majority and changes to industrial relations laws we are likely to see the flag brought out again as a show of defiance by oppressed groups against the government.
As you can see, because of the flag's nature, it is often used by repressed (or at least percieved repressed) groups. Thus, it has a large significance in our history as you can see on that link above, however also because of that nature it has the potential to be abused in the name of "repressed" groups that think using the flag in such a manner would draw attention to their cause.
However the flag because of that nature is also a symbol of free speech and part of the Australian "battler" spirit.
There was talk a while back about somehow incorporating it into the Australia flag if we converted to a republic ( which we didnt =( ) however the notion was rejected because of that controversial nature and the fact that the flag would, incorporated into a national emblem, then be representing the very thing that it was created to attempt to overcome (the majority).
Anyway... I don't know a lot about it. Ill read up a bit and tell you more if you would like.