When the Australian National flag is lowered to half-mast, all other flags should also be flown at half-mast under protocol, stating the Australian flag should always be flown in the “position of honour”.
An acceptable half-mast position is when the top of the flag is presented a third of the distance down from the top of the flagpole.
Vice-Regal Standards, which are the flags of each of Australia’s state governors and the Governor-General are to remain at full-mast.
The Commonwealth Flag Officer encourages participants to seek permission from the diplomatic representatives of other nations if they want to position those nations flags at half-mast also.
State and territory governments and other organisations are also encouraged to participate with members of the community in the minute of silence at 11 am AEST this Thursday.
Information on flag protocol is available at http://www.pmc.gov.au/flag.