There are 3 pins The Active Pin: Red or Brown The Neutral Pin: Black or Blue The Earth: Green or Green and Yellow The new standard effectively uses Brown and Blue for cords and Red and Black for the building See also www.accesscomms.com.au/reference/powerplug.htm The Australian mains plug configuration was originally presented as provisional standard C112 in 1937, formalised as Standard C112 in 1938, redesignated AS3112 in 1981 and harmonized with the New Zealand standard and redesignated AS/NZS3112 in 1993. Australian Standards AS/NZS 3112:2000 and AS/NZS3112:2004 for Australian Mains Plugs now define the requirements for the insulation of the Active and Neutral pins of the plug.