Oliver Peterson: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says he will review AU $25m cost of Aboriginal flag on Sydney Harbour Bridge

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says he will comb over a $25 million quote to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge “line-by-line” to ensure taxpayers get value for money.
It comes after the Premier laughed his way through a press conference on Sunday when reporters grilled him on why it cost that much.
“I don’t know, but it does, apparently,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“I’m even surprised it takes this long.
“I’ll go to Bunnings myself and climb up there and put the pole up.”
Perrottet appeared on 2GB’s breakfast radio show on Monday to respond to criticism that the use of taxpayers' money was no laughing matter.
“It doesn’t seem to pass the pub test when it comes to putting up a flag,” he agreed.
“I accept that it’s not a simple process and its not a simple construction.
“But like most fair minded people across the state, I would say that it seems to be a pretty ridiculous and outrageous cost.”
Perrottet explained that the cost of the third flag pole was so high due to its size and the heritage status of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
“The advice that I’ve received is that it’s complex, there are heritage concerns, all three poles will need to be replaced and all three of them are the equivalent size of a six-storey building,” Perrottet told Fordham.
The Premier also attempted to explain his flippant response to questioning on Sunday, saying he was frustrated with the bureaucratic process.
 

The Aboriginal Flag will permanently fly on the #Sydney Harbour Bridge by the end of the year, however Premier Dominic Perrottet was unable to answer why the move will cost $25 million.DETAILS: https://t.co/c1Phn34b4h #9News pic.twitter.com/40bAz1aA79— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) June 19, 2022


 
“The whole process to me has been incredibly frustrating,” he said, highlighting the time it’s taken to get the project underway.
Mr Perrottet said he going through the quote and “making sure we bring it down”.
“This is an important project,” he said.
“I don’t want the cost getting in the way of what is an important decision that we’ve made as a government and that is to fly the Aboriginal flag alongside the New South Wales flag and the Australian flag on the bridge.”
Ben Fordham proposed that the Premier consider saving the unpopular $25 million cost and instead simply replace the NSW flag with the Aboriginal flag.
“Most people wouldn’t be able to place the NSW flag in a line up,” Mr Fordham said.
However, Mr Perrottet disagreed saying residents “should all be very proud of our great state”.
The Premier said he will be sitting down with the Department of Transport and working through “line by line” to “make sure the taxpayers of NSW get value for money”.
“This shouldn’t be a divisive issue and if the cost clearly becomes an issue, we’ll bring it down.”
- by Madeleine Achenza, news.com.au

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