The field color of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands flag is green. Against that green background are a gold palm tree on a disc, a gold crescent, and a gold Southern Cross.
The design was created by Mohammed Minkom after he won a flag competition in 2003, and it was formally declared on 6 April 2004. Green provides the main field, while the gold symbols identify the islands’ natural setting, Muslim population, and location within the Australian region and Southern Hemisphere.
The palm tree represents the tropical flora of the islands. The crescent represents Islam, particularly the faith of the Cocos Malays, and the Southern Cross represents Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. The green field is therefore not the symbol assigned to one particular feature; it serves as the background for the flag’s complete group of emblems.
The flag is regularly used in the territory, although the Australian Government does not officially recognize its design as an Australian territorial flag.