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{{Short description|Flag of Australian Indigenous people}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Torres Strait Islanders
| Image = Flag of the Torres Strait Islanders.svg
| Alt = Torres Strait Islander flag
| Nickname =
| Morenicks =
| Use =
| Symbol =
| Proportion = 2:3 or 1:2 (here)
| Adoption = 14 July 1995
| Design =
| Designer = Bernard Namok
}}

The '''Torres Strait Islander flag''' is the official flag of the [[Torres Strait Islanders|Torres Strait Islander]]s, an [[Indigenous Australian|Indigenous]] people of Australia. It was designed in 1992 by Bernard Namok, who won a local competition held by the Islands Coordinating Council.

It was recognised by the [[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission]] in June 1992. It was granted official status in 1995 under the ''[[Flags Act 1953]]'', alongside the [[Australian Aboriginal flag]].

== Status ==
On 14 July 1995, Governor-General [[Bill Hayden]] issued a proclamation under section five of the ''[[Flags Act 1953]]'' declaring the flag to be "recognised as the flag of the Torres Strait Islander people of Australia and a flag of significance to the Australian nation generally".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240551971|title=Flags Act 1953 Proclamation|journal=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette|date=14 July 1995|issue=S258|access-date=19 January 2024|archive-date=19 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119131601/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240551971|url-status=live}}</ref>

An "administrative oversight" caused the 1995 proclamation not to be lodged to continue in force indefinitely; hence, it automatically expired on 1 January 2008. It was almost identically replaced, on 25 January 2008, with retroactive effect as from 1 January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2008L00210|title=Flags Act 1953{{mdash}}Proclamation (Australian Aboriginal Flag)|publisher=[[ComLaw]]|access-date=31 May 2014|archive-date=17 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917220905/http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2008L00210|url-status=live}} The only significant change from 1995 is that "Torres Strait Islander flag" has been altered to "Torres Strait Islander Flag".</ref>

In the 2008 proclamation, the flag "is recognised as the flag of the Torres Strait Islander people of Australia and a flag of significance to the Australian nation generally". It is appointed "to be the flag of the Torres Strait Islander people of Australia and to be known as the Torres Strait Islander Flag". The design is reproduced in Schedule 1 and described in Schedule 2.

Although Namok had died in 1993, the Torres Strait Islander flag is still subject to [[Australian copyright law|copyright under the ''Copyright Act 1968'' (Cth)]]. The copyright was administered by the Island Coordinating Council until 2008, when that body was superseded by the [[Torres Strait Island Region|Torres Strait Island Regional Council]]. It is willing to permit reproductions of the flag that are accurate and acknowledge Namok as the designer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsirc.qld.gov.au/our-work/torres-strait-islander-flag|title=Torres Strait Islander flag|publisher=Torres Strait Island Regional Council|access-date=13 July 2018|archive-date=13 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713012640/http://www.tsirc.qld.gov.au/our-work/torres-strait-islander-flag|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Colours ==
The official colours of the flag of the Torres Strait Islanders are as follows:
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:70%; text-align:center;"
!Scheme
! style="background:#009966; color:#fff;" |Green
! style="background:#000099; color:#fff;" |Blue
! style="background:#000000; color:#fff;" |Black
! style="background:#ffffff; color:#000;" |White
!Source(s)
|-
|[[Pantone]]
|3288 C or 342 C
|301 C or 280 C
|Black C
|Safe
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Style manual for authors, editors and printers.|last=Australia.|date=2002|publisher=John Wiley & Sons Australia|others=Snooks & Co.|isbn=9780701636487|edition=6th|location=Canberra|pages=300|oclc=49316140}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/government/australian-national-symbols/australian-flags|title=Australian flags|last=Cabinet|first=Prime Minister and|date=2016-06-27|website=www.pmc.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2017-11-19|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041858/https://www.pmc.gov.au/government/australian-national-symbols/australian-flags|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|[[RGB color model|RGB]]
([[Hex color|Hex]])
|0–153–102
(#009966)
|0–0–153
(#000099)
|0–0–0
(#000000)
|255–255–255
(#FFFFFF)
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|[[CMYK color model|CMYK]]
|100%–0%–80%–40%
|100%–70%–0%–0%
|0%–0%–0%–100%
|0%–0%–0%–0%
|<ref name=":0" />
|}

== Symbolic meaning ==
[[File:Torres flag.jpg|thumb|right|Memorial plaque explaining the meaning of the Torres Strait Islander flag, displayed on Thursday Island.]]
The green panels at the top and the bottom of the flag symbolise the land, while the blue panel in the centre represents the waters of the [[Torres Strait]]. The thin black stripes between the green and blue panels signify the Torres Strait Islanders themselves. The white five-pointed star at the centre of the flag represents the five major island groups{{mdash}}the Western, Eastern, Central, Port Kennedy and (N.P.A.) Mainland{{mdash}}and the white [[dhari (headdress)|dhari]] (also spelt ''dari'', a ceremonial dancer's headdress<ref>{{cite web | last=Whitford | first=Maddie | title=Producers reflect on profound experience walking with Indigenous artists on country | website=ABC News | date=13 April 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/about/backstory/regional/2020-04-13/making-abc-this-place-indigenous-artist-series/12017770 | access-date=14 April 2020 | archive-date=31 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131083058/https://www.abc.net.au/news/about/backstory/regional/2020-04-13/making-abc-this-place-indigenous-artist-series/12017770 | url-status=live }}</ref>), around it also symbolises the Torres Strait Islands people. White symbolises peace, while the star is a symbol for navigation.<ref name=":1" />

==Public display==
[[File:The 3 Flags of Australia.jpg|thumb|The [[Flag of Australia|Australian national]], [[Australian Aboriginal flag|Aboriginal]] and Torres Strait Islander flags as they are often displayed at official events]]
The Torres Strait Islander flag is permanently flown alongside the [[Australian Aboriginal flag]] in front of [[Adelaide Town Hall]] in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Australian Aboriginal flag | website=[[City of Adelaide]] | date=13 May 2019 | url=https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/reconciliation/australian-aboriginal-flag/ | access-date=4 June 2022 | archive-date=19 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719032604/https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/reconciliation/australian-aboriginal-flag/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the [[2022 Australian federal election]] on 21 May 2022, the incoming [[Anthony Albanese]]-led [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] government started displaying the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag alongside the [[Flag of Australia|national flag]] at ministerial press conferences.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2022/05/23/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flags-flank-prime-ministers-debut1|title= Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags flank Prime Minister's debut|date= 23 May 2022|website= [[NITV]]|first= Rachael|last= Knowles|access-date= 4 June 2022|archive-date= 4 June 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220604082029/https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2022/05/23/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flags-flank-prime-ministers-debut1|url-status= live}}</ref> Upon the opening of the [[47th Parliament of Australia|new Parliament]], both flags began to be displayed in the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and [[Australian Senate|Senate]] chambers.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/senate-president-sue-lines-no-longer-wants-the-lords-prayer-read-before-each-sitting-day-in-parliament/news-story/d6700e000160a526ee7a494274a42f64|title= Senate President Sue Lines no longer wants the Lord's Prayer read before each sitting day in Parliament|date= 28 July 2022|website= [[Sky News Australia]]|first= Jack|last= Mahony|access-date= 28 July 2022|archive-date= 28 July 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220728045545/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/senate-president-sue-lines-no-longer-wants-the-lords-prayer-read-before-each-sitting-day-in-parliament/news-story/d6700e000160a526ee7a494274a42f64|url-status= live}}</ref>

From 27 May 2022, at the start of [[National Reconciliation Week]], both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were hoisted on the front lawn of [[Government House, Adelaide]], to be permanently flown alongside the national flag and the [[South Australian flag]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Opie | first=Rebecca | title=Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags permanently fly at Government House | website=ABC News | publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=27 May 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-27/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flags-permanently-fly/101104308 | access-date=4 June 2022 | archive-date=4 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604060913/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-27/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flags-permanently-fly/101104308 | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Local flags==
===Murray Island===
{{Gallery|align=center|height=120
|File:Flag of Murray Island (Mer).svg|Flag of [[Murray Island, Queensland|Murray Island]]
}}

The flag of Murray Island, located in the eastern section of the Torres Strait, consists of three vertical stripes: red ochre, white, and black representing the [[Torres Strait Creole]]. In the canton, there is a depiction of a [[beach hibiscus]] symbolizing peace and authority, placed on a white disc surrounded by eight six-pointed mullet stars representing the 8 [[Meriam people|Meriam tribes]]. The flag was designed by local artist Andrew Passi senior.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://australianaflags.com.au/flags/mer-island-murray-island-flag-circa-1980s/ | title=Mer Island (Murray Island) Flag Circa 1980's | access-date=3 August 2023 | archive-date=3 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803145526/https://australianaflags.com.au/flags/mer-island-murray-island-flag-circa-1980s/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Saibai Island===
{{Gallery|align=center|height=120
|File:Flag of Saibai Island.svg|Flag of [[Saibai Island]]
}}

The flag of Saibai Island, situated four kilometres from the nation of [[Papua New Guinea]]. It consists of a green [[Chevron (insignia)|triangle]] symbolizing the land and a dark blue field representing the sea. Within the green triangle there is a yellow leaf, symbolizing peace. Additionally, an eight-pointed star represents Australia. The flag was chosen by members of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://australianaflags.com.au/flags/saibai-island-flag-2001/ | title=Saibai Island Flag 2001 | access-date=3 August 2023 | archive-date=3 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803145526/https://australianaflags.com.au/flags/saibai-island-flag-2001/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia|Heraldry and Vexillology}}
*[[Flags of Australia]]
*[[Ethnic flag]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web | last=Mounter | first=Brendan | website=ABC News | title=Torres Strait Islanders fly the flag for cultural identity on banner day for community | date=29 May 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-29/torres-strait-islands-flag-day-thursday-island-2021/100176336}}
*[https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/torres-strait-islander-flag Torres Strait Islander flag] (AIATSIS)
*{{cite web | title=Torres Strait Flag | website= Torres Strait Regional Authority | date= 22 August 2023 | url=https://www.tsra.gov.au/the-torres-strait/torres-strait-flag}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FOTW|id=au-tores|title=Torres Strait Islander Flag}}

{{Australian flags}}
{{Torres Strait |state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Flags of Australia]]
[[Category:Torres Strait Islanders]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1992]]
[[Category:Flags of indigenous peoples]]
[[Category:1995 establishments in Australia]]

Torres Strait Islander flag - Revision history

imported>Josemite at 17:04, 22 June 2025