Australians want a new national flag but not too different from the existing one, it seems. A survey of more than 8000 people has found that this design (right), in which the Federation Star and the Southern Cross continue to feature prominently on a blue background, was the most popular among voters. Gone is any sign of the Union Jack and instead, the national colours of green and gold feature in a wave-like design at the bottom of the flag, called the Southern Horizon. The Alternative Australian Flag Survey was conducted by Dr Benjamin Jones, an adjunct research fellow at Western Sydney University. The survey, which ran from   December 16 to   January 25, asked voters to choose their favourite from among six flag designs, and was part of a larger Australian Research Council-funded project examining Australian national symbols. Dr Jones said 31 per cent of respondents voted for Southern Horizon, followed by the Reconciliation Flag, which attracted 28 per cent of the vote. That flag features red, yellow and black prominently to recognise Indigenous Australians.