It is with great pleasure to announce, after five long years of relentless campaigning, that the NSW Government has agreed to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

Today, the NSW Government confirmed that the Aboriginal Flag will remain flying on the Sydney Harbour Bridge permanently, without any additional infrastructure required. 

I am happy that the $25m being redirected to closing the gap initiatives is a result of this campaign. Perhaps the lack of investment in First Nations-focused services such as Aboriginal deaths in custody and raising the minimum age of incarceration will be considered.

This is an extremely powerful ending that I am humbled to have helped achieve.

This petition been signed by more than 177,000 people, making it the third-largest Indigenous rights petition in Change.org Australian history.

There are no words to describe how this makes me feel. Seeing the flag fly represents equality, respect and sets the precedence for how Australia needs to unite as an equal nation. 

It is fitting that this has occurred following on from NAIDOC Week, a powerful time for first nations people across Australia. We are moving together, and it is only a matter of time before we move united. Australia has never looked so colourful.   

I want to extend appreciation to each and every person who signed the petition, who donated to the cause and for fighting all forms of injustice. I personally believe that each of us has a responsibility to contribute everything we can to bettering society. 

To my supporters: thank you for showing up, for doing the work, and for changing lives.

Thank you for keeping me going. I promise to pay it forward.

Cheree Toka