Premier in a flap over $25m pole to fly Aboriginal flag on Sydney Harbour Bridge

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says a third flagpole will be built on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge so the Aboriginal flag can be flown permanently – but he “doesn’t know” why it will cost $25 million.

The Aboriginal flag flew alongside the Australian flag on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Australia Day. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says a third flagpole will be built on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge so the Aboriginal flag can be flown permanently. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says a third flagpole will be built on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge so the Aboriginal flag can be flown permanently – but he “doesn’t know” why it will cost $25 million.

Ahead of Tuesday’s big-spending state budget, Mr Perrottet said the decision to install a six-storey high flagpole was an important one for national unity and it should be in place by the end of the year.

“Our Indigenous history should be celebrated and acknowledged, so young Australians understand the rich and enduring culture that we have here with our past,” he said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Picture: Toby Zerna

But the Premier seemed flummoxed – even offering to go to Bunnings for a pole to install it himself – when asked during a pre-budget press conference why the new flagpole had a $25m price tag.

“I don’t know. But it does, apparently,” he said.

“I’m even surprised it takes this long. I mean I made the announcement a while ago and the first brief that came back was that it takes two years to do.

“I’ll go to Bunnings myself and climb up there and put the pole up.

“But apparently it does, apparently that’s the costing, and I think that it’s an important decision that we’ve made.

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

The Aboriginal flag has flown atop the Harbour Bridge on past occasions but – with only two flagpoles currently in place – it has replaced the state flag and flown next to the national flag.

The $25m for a third pole to fly the Aboriginal flag will be included in the budget released on Tuesday. Once the flagpole is built, the Aboriginal flag will fly every day along with the Australian and NSW flags.

Mr Perrottet revealed in February that he intended to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently atop the Harbour Bridge.

He also announced the return of the harbour’s Goat Island to its traditional landowners.