Pandemics, people and democracy
Democracy is not innate. We need to keep working at it. International Day of Democracy is the perfect time to think about what we want from our democracy, how we practise it, and how we might improve our practice.
Latest articles
Out of the shadows - the story of a Star of David cloth patch
Near the entrance of our exhibition Democracy: Are You In? is a small yellow cloth patch. Now some eighty years old, it is displayed in semi-darkness, to help protect its delicate fibres. We block light to this object to shed light on a terrible chapter in human history.
Clip-on earrings, floral arrangements and heritage furniture - how the museum recreates life in a 1980s working parliament
From analysing old photographs to scouring eBay for a 1987 Parramatta Eels poster, the museum undertakes a meticulous and fascinating process so visitors can step back in time.
Lockdown learning: Resources and activities for the classroom and home
Quick, accessible, ready-to-go activities for parents, teachers and young people.
Celebrating Neville Bonner, the first Indigenous federal parliamentarian
Jagera man Neville Bonner AO was sworn into the Federal Senate in August 1971, the first Indigenous federal parliamentarian in Australia.
The rise of bee activism – how these humble insects have inspired a mass movement
In recent years, concern for the health of honeybees has sparked a rise in bee activism, which is seeing everyone from Instagram and TikTok influencers to Angelina Jolie shine a spotlight on the challenges facing the world's bee population.
Knitters and crocheters make history and warm hearts during a cold Canberra winter
Inspired by the knitting ban once in force in the chambers and galleries at Old Parliament House, the Canberra Knitters and Crocheters group joined with MoAD to mark the World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKPD), the largest event for knitters to celebrate their craft in communities around the world.
What bees can teach us about democracy
What do honeybees and a House of Parliament have in common? Fascinatingly, these highly intelligent pollinators rely on consensus building and vigorous debate in their decision-making process – whether they're moving to a new hive or changing the queen.
Showing up, learning, yarning - Dhani Gilbert on Healing Country
Meet Dhani Gilbert. At just 19, the proud Kalari Wiradjuri woman has dedicated her life to achieving inclusive, safe, and sustainable outcomes for First Nations peoples and Country. We spoke to Dhani about her work and what the NAIDOC Week theme Heal Country means to her.
How are party leaders chosen?
The way parties choose their leaders is a critical part of the parliamentary system, and while each party has slightly different rules, they all follow some basic principles.
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.
