New South Wales: Aboriginal flag permanently flies on Sydney Harbor Bridge

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The Sydney Harbor Bridge

Photo: BIANCA DE MARCHI / imago images / AAP

The Australian Aboriginal flag will be permanently flown on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

This was stated by the Prime Minister of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet.

The black, red and yellow flag will fly alongside the Australian and New South Wales state flags at the top of the bridge's landmark.

Previously, the Aboriginal flag was only flown 19 days a year.

The government of Australia's most populous state said it will spend $25 million to install a third flagpole on the bridge, where the flag will be permanently raised, by the end of the year.

Perrottet told reporters in Sydney he wasn't sure why the project was costing so much, but he supported it as an "important decision" for the state.

"I think it brings unity to our country, and it is a small price to pay for that unity," said Perrottet.

The previous prime minister, Gladys Berejiklian, opposed calls for the flag to be raised permanently during her tenure.

The plan was officially announced by the government in February after a petition led by Indigenous artist Cheree Toka received 177,000 signatures.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs Ben Franklin said permanent flag-flying is an important commitment to Indigenous cultures.

"I am delighted that we are one step closer to finally having the Aboriginal flag permanently flown on the Sydney Harbor Bridge, 365 days a year, seven days a week," he said.

"We are incredibly proud to be working with Aboriginal stakeholders to achieve symbolic and practical reconciliation."

The Australian government bought the copyright to the Aboriginal flag earlier this year, allowing it to be used freely.

This settled a commercial dispute that had prevented sports teams and Aboriginal communities from reproducing the image.

The Indigenous Aborigines lived on the Australian continent tens of thousands of years before the arrival of the British colonizers 250 years ago.

Today they make up only about three percent of the approximately 25 million inhabitants.

svs/Reuters