What do the 5 stars represent in the Australian flag?

Related questions

1. Is NZ part of Australia?
2. Why does Australian flag have Union Jack?
3. Should we change the Australian flag debate?
4. Is the Southern Cross in the Milky Way?
5. Why do New Zealand and Australia have the same flag?
6. Why is there the British flag on the upper left corner Australia?
7. Is New Zealand the same as Australia?
8. Was Australia's flag ever red?
9. What flag came first Australia or New Zealand?
10. What are the three arms of Australia's government?

Tags

1. #southern
2. #seven
3. #numbers
4. #differences
5. #eight
6. #cross
7. #stars
8. #pointed
9. #commonwealth
10. #brighter
11. #points
12. #while
13. #components
14. #respectively
15. #different
16. #current