New Australian of the Year joins call to ditch 'confusing' national flag

Australian household names including Dawn Fraser and Evonne Goolagong have added their voices to a campaign to change the nation's flag. Image / Supplied

SYDNEY - The new Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon, has backed his predecessor's calls for a new national flag.

Last year's Australian of the Year, Patrick McGorry, is among a group of high-profile Australians who say it's time the nation "grew up".

More than a dozen Australians of the Year dating back to the 1960s, including the Clean Up campaigner Ian Kiernan, swimmers Dawn Fraser and Shane Gould, and scientist Tim Flannery, have signed a statement calling for change.

The newly crowned Australian of the Year backed their stance.

"I don't want to take away our links with the mother country at all but the reality is we ought to be able to stand on our own two feet," McKeon told the Nine Network.

"For me, I'm supportive of a change of flag, but I'm more supportive of let's bring on the agenda of a very simple question: do a clear majority of Australians support a republic or not?

"All the other issues that flow from that such as the model of a republic, the flag, the anthem, even the date that we celebrate today, for me they are secondary issues.

"They are important issues, but they are secondary, there is only so much oxygen we can have at any one point in time to devote to this, but inevitably there will be a republic one day."

McKeon, 55, is a Melbourne businessman and philanthropist who is chairman of the CSIRO. He is involved in Red Dust Role Models, which works with Aboriginal communities.

McGorry, a mental health expert, says the current flag causes confusion overseas and embarrassment at home.

Ausflag, which drafted the statement calling for change, believes it can secure support from other award recipients. It is also seeking formal commitments from former prime ministers such as Paul Keating, Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser.

Australia Day is about celebrating the nation's unique qualities, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

At an Australia Day citizenship ceremony and flag raising in Canberra yesterday, Gillard said it was a time to appreciate all the things that made the country great.

"On this Australia Day more than many we will be celebrating those bonds of mateship," she said.

"We've seen them on such strong display as the nation has come together in the aftermath of the Queensland floods and floods that have hit other parts of the country.

"We also reflect on our national characteristics and attributes: our courage, our humility, our humour and our fierce determination to make sure that everyone gets a fair go in life."

Gillard, who migrated to Australia from the UK in 1966, said she could lend some insight into the migrant experience.

"My parents determined that they would become citizens of this nation. And having chosen this country, they have loved it with a fierce determination, with a fierce passion."

- AAP