Adam Bandt had the Australian flag removed from the background of his press conference at Sydney's Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices yesterday evening — leaving only two flags in frame.
The leader was heavily criticised for the move, with Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten telling Today that it was an act of "virtue signalling".
Addressing the controversial move, Mr Bandt said the Australian flag was removed due to it representing "lingering pain" for Indigenous People.
"For many Australians, this flag represents dispossession and the lingering pains of colonisation," he said.
He pushed the party's aspirations for Treaty and republic.
"Through Treaty with First Nations Peoples and by moving into a Republic, we can have a flag that represents all of us."
In the lead up to the election, the Greens were advocating for the implementation of a Treaty.
On its stance on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the party has prioritised the introduction of a Treaty before a Voice to Parliament.
"If we really want success to happen, it's a mistake to do it in any other order," said Mr Bandt at his Press Club address in April.
"We need to do it in that order where we tell the truth, then strike a treaty, and that will put us in the best position for reforms like the Voice to succeed."
