People Want The Aboriginal Flag To Be Flown On The Sydney Harbour Bridge Every Day

The Aboriginal flag was flown on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for NAIDOC week last week as a sign of solidarity with Australia's First Nations people.

The mark of respect was celebrated by many in the NSW capital and now that the week is over, there are renewed calls for the flag to stay there permanently.

Cheree Toka launched an online petition calling on New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance to make this happen.

Ms Toka started the campaign several years ago and has since gained nearly 170,000 signatures.

She wrote: "As Australians, we are proud of our Aboriginal heritage and we want to recognise and celebrate this heritage every day. The flags flying from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge are wonderful symbols of our heritage and identity.

"However, the Aboriginal flag does not fly permanently atop of the Sydney Harbour bridge.

"The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative Assembly and additional decision makers for a third flag to fly alongside the Australian and the NSW flags - one that acknowledges and celebrates our ancient and authentic Aboriginal culture; the red, black and yellow Aboriginal flag."

The petition has also been trying to raise $300,000 to erect the flag on the famous landmark.

But before a single cent gets spent, it still needs Ms Berejiklian's and the NSW government's support.

At the moment, the Aboriginal flag only gets to be flown on the Bridge for 19 days out of the year, which is for January 26, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.

The Premier has admitted that more unity is needed in the community and last year backed the campaign to update the national anthem to reflect our Indigenous history.

Change.org

She has previously said: "We're tens of thousands of years old when it comes to human inhabitants. Respect is important. Inclusiveness is important.

"It's time we start recognising that in all of our national symbols and all of our national ways in which we represent ourselves."

While flying a flag on a bridge isn't a national concept, it would certainly go a long way for representation on one of our most famous Sydney attractions.

The last time this matter was debated at the NSW government level was in November 2019. Politicians failed to reach an agreement on the issue and that was that.

There was no statement or explanation as to why the measure had been rejected, only that it had been.

It's hoped more attention on the issue will get lawmakers to consider revisiting it soon.

To support the fight against racial injustice visit ladbible.com/unheard

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie