<Tr> <Th> Tasmania </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> a red walking lion </Td> </Tr> <P> In the top half, from left to right, the states represented are: New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland . In the bottom half, from left to right: South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania . Above the shield is the seven - pointed Commonwealth Star or Star of Federation above a blue and gold wreath, forming the crest . Six of the points on the star represent the original six states, while the seventh point represents the combined territories and any future states of Australia . In its entirety the shield represents the federation of Australia . </P> <P> The Red Kangaroo and Emu that support the shield have never been designated as official animal emblems of the nation . They owe their unofficial recognition to the fact that they are native Australian fauna (found only on that continent), and likely chosen because they are the most well - known native Australian animals large enough to be positioned together in scale holding up the shield . They were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward, based on the fact that neither animal can move backwards easily--i.e. symbolising progress . It has been claimed that the kangaroo is, and must be seen to be, male . </P> <P> In the background is wreath of Golden Wattle, the official national floral emblem, though the representation of the species is not botanically accurate . At the bottom of the coat of arms is a scroll that contains the name of the nation . Neither the wreath of wattle nor the scroll are technically part of the design, because they are not described on the Royal Warrant that grants the armorial design . </P>

What does the emu and kangaroo represent on the coat of arms