Explanation sought for $25m price tag to fly Aboriginal flag on Harbour Bridge

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has asked for a departmental review of the $25 million price tag to add the Aboriginal flag to the Sydney Harbour Bridge just a day after he announced how much it would cost.

The Herald on Sunday revealed the government planned to add a third flagpole to the Harbour Bridge before the end of the year, though Premier Dominic Perrottet has since conceded he did not know why the cost was so high.

The government will spend $25 million installing a third flagpole on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Credit: Dylan Coker

The premier’s office then issued a press release on Sunday quoting Perrottet and outlining the $25 million price tag. Twenty-four hours later, Perrottet said the price “doesn’t seem to pass the pub test”.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the premier had now instructed Transport for NSW, the department responsible for the work, to reassess the cost.

The premier in February announced a third flagpole would be installed on the Sydney landmark to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently, saying it was an important step toward reconciliation.

Kean said while it was important that taxpayers got value for money, the Aboriginal flag needed to fly permanently atop the Harbour Bridge.

Consultation with experts over the bridge’s heritage, and even aviation authorities regarding the placement of an aircraft beacon, are among work underway to install a third flagpole, with contingencies also pushing up the estimated price.

Kean said all three flagpoles needed to be replaced as part of the work on the bridge, which was also one of the city’s busiest roads.

“The Aboriginal flag should be flying atop of the Harbour Bridge for everyone to see,” he said.

“Now there are questions that have been raised about the cost of this. I think they are appropriate questions and therefore it’s appropriate that you get a second opinion to make sure that we are getting the best value for taxpayer dollars.”

Kean said Perrottet had instructed Transport for NSW to come back to him with a revised quote.

The price tag has also raised questions within the government’s cabinet, with some ministers surprised by the cost.

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the project was complex and required “sophisticated engineering work on a heritage asset 97.4 metres above live roadway”.

“Transport must also ensure safe installation conditions at the peak of the bridge while minimising the disruption to one of the busiest transport corridors in Sydney,” she said.

“The $25 million figure is a budget for Transport to work within to install these three new flag poles, and the department has been working to refine the design and methodology to maximise value for money.”

Transport will continue to work on delivering a value for money solution to install the flagpole by the end of the year.

Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka, who launched the flag campaign five years ago, said the government needed to follow through on its commitment.

“You can’t put a price on equality,” she said.

She said she was sceptical of suggestions to save money and replace the NSW flag with the Aboriginal flag, given a change of Premier could see that undone in the future.

Toka said while she spoke to Perrottet in the days after he first announced his intention to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag on the harbour bridge, she was yet to meet with him over the plan.

She was instead referred to a government Indigenous affairs advisor, while a Transport for NSW employee also reached out about the project.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Ben Franklin remains supportive of the plan despite the cost.

“It is both a symbolic and practical gesture which demonstrates the NSW government’s commitment to reconciliation, truth-telling and respecting Aboriginal people both within our state and nation,” he said.

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