Super-patriot Dhyan Prem really wants a new Australian flag in a music video from The Byron Connection. Courtesy Paul Jones/YouTube

A VOTE all the way on the other side of the world could have far-reaching unintended consequences for us here in Australia.

Next month, the voters of Scotland will go to the polls to decide whether or not they want to declare their independence from the United Kingdom.

This affects Australia because it has sparked a discussion about the UK flag — the Union Jack — and whether it needs to be changed if Scotland votes to secede.

The Union Jack, also known as the Union Flag, is a composite of the flags of England (a red cross on a white background), Scotland (a white, diagonal cross on a blue background) and Ireland (a red, diagonal cross on a white background), and has origins that stretch back to 1606.

If Scotland leaves the UK, some have argued that the Scottish element of the flag, St Andrew’s cross, should be removed.

It is yet to be seen what would be done with the flag, but the UK authority on the issue, the Flag Institute, indicates that there is an appetite for change.

In a poll on its website, 65 per cent of people said they believed the Union Jack should change if Scotland becomes independent.

So what does all of this mean for Australia? Well, given that we have the symbol sitting in the top, left-hand corner of our flag, a change to the Union Jack in the UK could render our national banner obsolete.

But the institute’s Graham Bartram said last month that it was up to Australia what it wanted to do.

“No matter what Scotland or Britain does, Australia’s flag is Australia’s flag and it is up to Australia what it does with it. So even if Britain did change its flag there is no way that it could or, I suspect, would ask Australia to change theirs to match it,” he told The Australian.

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Flags Australia secretary Tony Burton told news.com.au that there was good reason to discuss changing the Australian flag, but the discussion should not be tied to the Scottish independence movement.

“We should do it on our own terms. The whole issue is a red herring,” Mr Burton said.

“The Union Jack is a very successful brand, it may well be retained (in the UK) on the grounds that it is a historical flag and everyone recognises it,” he said.

“(But) none of this has anything to do with Australia,” Mr Burton said.

Mr Burton said the Australian flag was very well designed for its purpose, but that purpose was now out of date.

“The thing about the Australian flag is that it includes the best of all brand markers, but if you go to a library, and borrow a book, you eventually have to give the book back,” he said.

“We’ve had this (the Union Jack) on loan for a long time.”

Mr Burton said taking St Andrew’s Cross out of the Union Jack would rob the flag of its history, artistry and “clever heraldry”.

He also noted that there was a lack of leadership on the need to update the Australian flag and said the last Prime Minister to take up the issue, Paul Keating, was crucified for it.

Australia is one of the last countries to have a British colonial flag, alongside New Zealand, Tuvalu and Fiji.

Would you support a change to the Union Jack on the Australian flag? Is this a good opportunity to redesign our flag altogether? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ.