Bayside Council has endorsed a petition calling for the Aboriginal Flag to be flown from the Sydney Harbour Bridge 365 days a year.
Mayor Bill Saravinovski called for the council to endorse the petition in a Mayoral Minute distributed at last night's council meeting and which was supported by councillors.
"I have received an email from a proud Inner West and Kamilaroi woman, Ms Cheree Toka, who is driving a petition calling on the Government to fly the Aboriginal Flag on Sydney Harbour Bridge 365 days a year," Cr Sarvinovski said.
"In an age of reconciliation, it is disappointing that the Aboriginal Flag is still only intermittently flown from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge," he said.
"The Bridge is the international symbol of Sydney and Australia. Currently the Australian and NSW State Flag are proudly flown from the top of the bridge all year round.
"However, the Aboriginal flag only flies for 15 days of the year - during NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week and on Australia Day.
"The online petition included over 121,056 signatures as of Friday 29 March 2019.
"Ms Toka has advised that she requires at least 10,000 signatures on a paper-based petition before it can be lodged into parliament.
"In this day and age Councillors, all levels of government must move faster on these matters - an online registered petition with over 120,000 signatures delivers a very strong message and I encourage your support."
Bayside Council will publicise the petition through its regular communications channels and provide copies of the petition to be signed at council facilities and major events.
The council will write the NSW Premier, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight and the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and local State Members calling on them to support displaying the Aboriginal Flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge permanently.
The online petition can be found here
