![What is the Australian merchant navy flag, the red ensign? And why do anti-government groups use it? What is the Australian merchant navy flag, the red ensign? And why do anti-government groups use it?](https://images.theconversation.com/files/430170/original/file-20211104-27-1lxnt7k.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=32%2C211%2C3629%2C1814&q=45&auto=format&w=1356&h=668&fit=crop)
What is the Australian merchant navy flag, the red ensign? And why do anti-government groups use it?
![Australian 1901 Federal Red Ensign Flag ( 180 x 120 cm ) Heavy Duty Woven Polyester - Custom Flag Australia Australian 1901 Federal Red Ensign Flag ( 180 x 120 cm ) Heavy Duty Woven Polyester - Custom Flag Australia](https://customflagsaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/federal.jpg)
Australian 1901 Federal Red Ensign Flag ( 180 x 120 cm ) Heavy Duty Woven Polyester - Custom Flag Australia
![Australian red ensign flag under 3d dome button and on glossy sp Stock Vector by ©lubo.ivanko 325127628 Australian red ensign flag under 3d dome button and on glossy sp Stock Vector by ©lubo.ivanko 325127628](https://st3.depositphotos.com/16211906/32512/v/1600/depositphotos_325127628-stock-illustration-australian-red-ensign-flag-under.jpg)
Australian red ensign flag under 3d dome button and on glossy sp Stock Vector by ©lubo.ivanko 325127628
![The Flags Act 1953 specified the Blue Ensign as the Australian National Flag and the Red Ensign as the merchant shippi… | Flag, Flags of the world, Historical flags The Flags Act 1953 specified the Blue Ensign as the Australian National Flag and the Red Ensign as the merchant shippi… | Flag, Flags of the world, Historical flags](https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/c3/33/ea/c333eaa4079b586f0294cc654e831bbb.jpg)