Flag debate erupts as Carrie Bickmore returns
Carrie Bickmore’s return to The Project has come amid heated debate over the flying of the Aboriginal flag over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with co-host Steve Price declaring “there’s only one Australian flag”.
Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Sunday that the plan to install a third flagpole - with a controversial $25 million price tag - would be scrapped, with the Aboriginal flag permanently replacing the state flag and the funds going towards “closing the gap” initiatives instead.
“Our Indigenous history should be celebrated and acknowledged so young Australians understand the rich and enduring culture that we have here with our past,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Installing the Aboriginal flag permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will do just that and is a continuation of the healing process as part of the broader move towards reconciliation.”
Activist Cheree Toka, who has been campaigning for the Indigenous flag to be flown permanently since 2017, said the state flag was “null and void these days”.
“Having the Aboriginal flag fly permanently next to the Australian flag is the statement that we need to set as a nation moving forward to unite,” she told reporters.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced the Aboriginal flag will permanently fly on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and has scrapped plans to spend $25 million on a new flagpole.#TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/I5b35mGVp2
— The Project (@theprojecttv) July 11, 2022
But when the news came up for discussion on Monday’s episode of The Project, the intense debate seemed to even overshadow Bickmore’s return from her UK family trip.
Co-host Hamish MacDonald asked the panel, “If that’s the argument about state flags, do you think we might be moving to a point where the nation as a whole embraces the Indigenous flag as the national flag?”
Price responded in the negative, and when asked for his reasoning, said: “I just think Australians support the flag they’ve got.
“We don’t need to change the flag. Who wants to change the flag?”
Panellist Peter Helliar began, “I think over time –”
Price quickly interrupted, saying, “We only have one flag – that’s the Australian flag. If you want to have a referendum on the flag, good luck buddy.”
“I think as generations go on that will change,” Bickmore said.
“No it won’t,” Price said.
Helliar then joked that Price might be dead by the time it came up for discussion.
“It may not be an issue for you, Pricey,” he said. “I mean who knows when it could happen? It could happen (in) 10 years, 20 years, 30 years.”
Annoyed, Price shot back, “You’d like to get rid of the Australian flag, would you?”
“I’m happy to have a conversation about it, absolutely,” Helliar replied.
“Well it would need a referendum, and it won’t get up,” Price said.
“Does it need … that?” MacDonald asked.
“Yes. Of course it does!” Price responded. “You don’t just chuck the flag out because a few people want it to be.”
The news that flying the Indigenous flag would come with such a hefty price tag sparked controversy last month, with even Mr Perrottet saying he “didn’t know” why it cost so much but that it was a “small price to pay”.
The installation of the six-storey flagpole, and the relocation of other equipment, was also expected to take two years to complete.
The Harbour Bridge WILL be home to the Aboriginal Flag in 2022 https://t.co/0MiVwlqEIk via @ChangeAus
Also, check out the number views. If only all who viewed signed too! pic.twitter.com/qSbtHBttbR
— Cheree Toka (@Chereetoka) July 6, 2022
Under the new plan, the NSW flag will be included in the redevelopment of Macquarie Street in Sydney’s CBD, where several key state government buildings are located.
“What we’ve learnt is a lot of people across the state don’t appreciate the NSW flag or the state’s history and that is because they see themselves as Australians first and not as their state,” Mr Perrottet said on Sunday.
“It’s a great opportunity to put the flag in the historic precinct as an important part of modern Australia. The parliament is there, the Mint is there, the Barracks are there.“
Ms Toka said she was “ecstatic and over the moon” at the announcement and already has her next goal: ensuring that Indigenous languages are taught in NSW schools.
“I haven’t done enough research yet but I’d love to pursue it,” she said.
“I think it’s really important to teach native tongues in the school curriculum, to keep this continuous culture living. At the minimum, we should be able to introduce ourselves, say hello, it doesn’t have to be anything fluent, but we should look at New Zealand and how it operates right now with a strong acceptance and recognition of the language of their people.”
Image: Twitter