Latest articles
Zines from the Refugee Art Project
Q&A with Sydney-based artist, musician and academic Safdar Ahmed who has been involved with the Refugee Art Project since 2011, facilitating the making of zines that share the art and stories of people incarcerated in the Villawood detention centre.
Zines: an independent platform for self-expression
Q&A with Bastian Fox Phelan, a Newcastle-based writer, musician and zine maker whose work explores issues of gender, sexuality and identity.
Seven politicians that famously switched sides
Your views can change, and if you’re part of a political party it’s not uncommon for you to change your mind and switch to another. But this is much rarer when you’re actually in politics. Whether it’s splitting off from a party or defecting to another, researcher Campbell has found some examples of people who took the plunge and switched sides.
Seven women who made Australian history
It's Women in History month and we're recognising the firsts of women in Australian politics - from Enid Lyons and Dorothy Tangney, the first women elected to Parliament, to Linda Burney, the first Aboriginal woman elected to the House of Representatives.
The future of local news
Local newspapers have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures have had an impact on the local economy, leading to closures and suspensions of more than 200 local news outlets, according to the Public Interest Journalism Initiative. This comes at a time when the health guidance that Australians need the most is highly localised.
4 things you can do to make a difference
Katrina Scaramella, a mentor of the Youth Leadership Group run by The Australian Multicultural Foundation and the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD), offers her advice on how to get involved in causes that matter to you, have your voice heard, and make a difference.
Community and resilience - Emelda Davis
(Waskam) Emelda Davis is the President and co-founder of Australian South Sea Islanders – Port Jackson (ASSI-PJ) and a descendent of the Australian blackbirding trade. Since joining MoAD for the Yumi Olgeta craftivism workshop in 2019, Davis has found new ways to support her community through COVID-19; embracing technology and organising a socially-distanced Sugar Fest (26 Jan 2021).
She spoke with us about the challenges and ‘energetic and spiritual shift’ of 2020.
Transition of power – what’s the difference between Australia and the United States?
On January 20, Joseph R Biden Jr will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. The inauguration in Washington is the culmination of several weeks of transition, following the election last November. Compare this to Australia, where the transition between prime ministers and their governments is fast. Sometimes, the whole thing takes only a couple of days. Despite this, there are some similarities between the two processes, and the differences are entirely due to the histories and political cultures of each country.
‘So deadly…so proud’: Representation and democracy
Senator Lidia Thorpe through consultation with our local community prioritised being Welcomed to Country prior to her attendance at Parliament House on the 6th of October. We held this Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at the Tent Embassy, a location that has represented and stood for First Nations Peoples’ Sovereignty in this country since the early 70’s.
Life of the Party – Part 2
This is the second of a series of blogs about parties...no, not that kind. I made this joke last time, and will probably keep making it, just so you know. In Part one, we looked at why parties exist in the first place. Today, we’re asking: why should you care?
Three things I've learnt about democracy
During my seven years as Director of the Museum of Australian Democracy, almost two million visitors have come through our doors …today, on International Democracy Day, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learnt from them.
Asserting the right to protest: the Waterdale Road marches
History is full of surprises, twists and turns. We had no idea that our poorly attended, local march would become a cause celebre - thanks entirely to the violent behaviour of the police.
Life of the Party – Part 1
In this, the first in a series of blogs about parties, their role and history, and people’s experiences with them, we’re going to examine how parties as we know them in Australia today came about.
From Tulips to Trenches: Comings and goings in the Old Parliament House Gardens
As Canberra emerges from winter into spring, it is a great time to reflect on some of the lesser known things about these beautiful historic gardens, including some of their temporary occupants.
Sixty years of service: John Campbell
In 1960, a young man in Brisbane noticed a newspaper advertisement for a position of Hansard reporter at Parliament House, Canberra. It would change his life forever.
Is it compulsory to like compulsory voting?
Is it compulsory to like compulsory voting? I haven’t decided yet. There are good arguments, sound, solid, democratic arguments, on both sides.
Political football
The major winter football codes have come out of the COVID-19 induced break to resume their competitions and no one is cheering louder than our political leaders.
Curly conversations: haircuts at Old Parliament House
Have you ever tried a haircut at home? Or do you prefer to leave it to the professionals?
What about a haircut at work? This is an option if you work long hours at our Federal Parliament.
The families from number 18
18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT, may not seem like a familiar address, but I’m sure you will recognise the house and some of the families who grew up here.
