Labor demands apology after Dominic Perrottet’s ‘virtue signalling’ article resurfaces

The NSW Premier has been slammed for comments made in 2018 which appear to contradict his latest advocacy for installing the flag on the Harbour Bridge.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has come under fire over calling a proposal to fly the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge “virtue signalling” in a resurfaced opinion piece.

The article, which was published in The Daily Telegraph in February 2018 and tweeted by Mr Perrottet, resurfaced on Twitter this week.

In the article, Mr Perrottet appears to mock Labor’s plans to fly the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge by suggesting a giant blank screen “broadcast Labor’s latest social justice warrior cause”.

He called the move “a lavish exercise in trendy virtue signalling” that is “designed to stroke the egos of the inner-city elites that control Labor’s agenda”.

Labor’s Rose Jackson criticised Dominic Perrottet's comments about the Aboriginal flag flying on the Harbour Bridge. Picture: Twitter

Shadow Minister Rose Jackson demanded an apology from the Premier for the comments made in 2018 which appear to contradict the government’s latest plans to install the flag at $25 million.

“I have a great idea for Dom Perrottet. Apologise for this ugly and partisan attack on the policy of flying the Indigenous flag on the Harbour Bridge now that your policy is *double checks notes* flying the indigenous flag on the Harbour Bridge,” Ms Jackson’s tweet read.

The Aboriginal flag flying on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during NAIDOC week. It will soon be a permanent fixture. Picture: Damian Shaw

Further along in the 2018 article, Mr Perrottet wrote “practical solutions” are needed to help Indigenous communities in Australia and that the nation needed to be “united … under one flag”.

In the four years since the article was published, Mr Perrottet has changed his mind on the issue, announcing his plan to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently on the Harbour Bridge on Sunday.

“I think that it’s an important decision that we’ve made,” he said at the time.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the state government will review the $25 million proposal. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

“I think it brings unity to our country and I think it’s a small price to pay for that unification.”

On Monday, the Premier confirmed that the government will seek alternate quotes to reduce the $25 million bill.

Treasurer Matt Kean said expert advice revealed the cost was due to the bridge’s structure, which required three six-storey flag poles and electrical work to remove a beacon on top of the bridge.

“Of course I want to make sure that taxpayers get the best (value) but let me be very clear … the Aboriginal flag should be flying on top of the Harbour Bridge,” he said.

“It’s three flag poles that need to be replaced. There is significant engineering work that’s required to make sure that we install those flag poles safely.”