A decorated Vietnam war hero has demanded a public apology from the Australian Greens leader after photographs emerged of the national flag being removed before his press conference started.
National President of The Royal Australian Regiment and a Vietnam War soldier Michael von Berg wrote an open letter to Bandt and accused Adam Bandt of dishonouring the national flag.
The letter has also called for a public apology.
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"I actually watched it live and personally, I thought, it was a mistake," von Berg told Sky News Australia. "When they showed just the Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait flag, I thought, 'that’s odd'."
Von Berg added: "Then I saw it off to one side and of course when he came and spoke, I thought this was a deliberate stunt. I was surprised and very angry."
The war veteran's letter roasted the Greens leader for his 'poor and pathetic publicity stunt'.
It also called Bandt's actions a 'disgrace'.
"The Australian Defence Force and those in active service have sadly lost good friends and soldiers under that flag (and) we find it offensive that someone who hasn’t worn a uniform or served the country or done the hard yards, dishonouring our members and the flag in such a way," von Berg said.
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Speaking to Sky News Australia, von Berg said that a 'general apology is warranted because it’s not just the veteran community or serving members he has offended'.
"What he doesn’t realise [is that] when we sign on [to the Defence Force] you sign off a lot of basic human rights," he said.
"The symbol that binds us as troops, or as a battalion or squadron is the national flag."
The letter was addressed to Bandt, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also sent a copy.
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ABC journalist Isobel Roe witnessed a Bandt staffer moving the national flag to the other side of the room before a press conference at Sydney's Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices on Monday (June 20).
"Ahead of a press conference with Greens leader Adam Bandt, a Greens staffer has just moved the Australian flag out of the TV camera shot," Roe said on Twitter, alongside a picture of the moved flag.
"I asked Adam Bandt why he chose not to stand in front of the Australian flag.
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"He says the country has work to do on racism, and that the symbol is hurtful to many Indigenous Australians."
She added: "He also says he usually has it removed before he speaks."
Rachel Lang