There Are Calls for the Aboriginal Flag to Fly on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Every Day

Almost 170,000 have signed the petition.

Over NAIDOC week, the Aboriginal flag was flown from the Sydney Harbour bridge all week long as a mark of respect towards Australia’s Indigenous communities and First Nations Aussies.

Now that NAIDOC week is over (though you should continue to celebrate First Nations people and culture all year round) there are calls for the flag to be made a mainstay atop of the famous bridge.

Proud Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka is leading the charge with a petition on change.org calling for the Aboriginal flag to be added permanently to the Sydney Harbour bridge, with 170,000 people so far having signed it.

“As Australians, we are proud of our Aboriginal heritage and we want to recognise and celebrate this heritage every day,” Toka stated in the petition.

“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.”

For context, the Aboriginal flag flies atop the bridge a total of 19 days a year. That’s pretty poor considering it symbolises and celebrates the oldest living culture in the world and the first Australians.

To correct this, Toka’s petition is asking the Legislative Assembly to commission the installation of another flagpole—something that they have already debated and rejected in the past ‘cos it would be “too costly to add an extra flagpole.”

Good thing price isn’t an issue for Toka’s determination.

“I will pay for it myself,” she writes on the petition page.

“I need your help to make this happen and donate to my GoFundMe. There are estimates for the cost of a flagpole upwards of $300,000. This is so achievable with you help.”

This is definitely something that every Aussie should get behind, and hopefully with enough support the NSW government will foot the bill so the people don’t have to.

Anyone wanting to show their support can sign the petition here or donate to the GoFundMe campaign here. 

Header Image: Cheree Toka