The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

The museum respectfully acknowledges the role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play in shaping Australia’s democracy.

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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • Visiting
    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access for people with disabilities
    • Group bookings
    • Café
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library
  • What’s On
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
  • Collection
    • The Building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Oral Histories
  • Learning
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents
  • Democracy
    • Defining democracy
    • Australian democracy: an overview
    • The democratic audit of Australia
    • One thing I like about democracy
    • Links
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    • About
    • Blog
    • Prime Ministers
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    Latest articles

    8 minute read

    Sat 10 Apr 2021
    Professor Giselle Bastin

    Commemorating Prince Philip, the Queen’s strength and stay

    Read article

    04%20np1222947%20prince%20philip%20melb%20zoo%2c%20r%20carew%2c%20low res

    9 minute read

    Fri 9 Apr 2021
    Samantha van Egmond

    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.   

    Read article

    Safdar%20ahmed zines

    14 minute read

    Fri 9 Apr 2021
    Samantha van Egmond

    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.

    Read article

    Bastian fox phelan zine%20bouquet

    13 minute read

    Tue 23 Mar 2021
    Campbell Rhodes

    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. 

    Read article

    Marktippet%20poster

    6 minute read

    Fri 5 Mar 2021

    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. 

    Read article

    Linda%20burney%20fxb246902

    8 minute read

    Tue 23 Feb 2021
    Sora Park

    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.  

    Read article

    Gawlerbunyip

    7 minute read

    Mon 22 Feb 2021
    Katrina Scaramella

    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.

    Read article

    160524moad%20 45

    12 minute read

    Fri 22 Jan 2021
    (Waskam) Emelda Davis

    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.

    Read article

    Yumiolgeta flag steps

    9 minute read

    Wed 20 Jan 2021
    Campbell Rhodes

    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.

    Read article

    Learn outgoing pm stanley bruce 3187369

    6 minute read

    Fri 13 Nov 2020
    Leah Matilda House

    ‘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. 

    Read article

    Slt 58

    6 minute read

    Thu 5 Nov 2020
    Campbell Rhodes

    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?

    Read article

    Liblab

    7 minute read

    Tue 15 Sep 2020
    Daryl Karp

    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.

    Read article

    Postitsdayi

    8 minute read

    Fri 11 Sep 2020
    Dr Barry York

    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. 

    Read article

    Wreck%20conscription%20vietnam%201970%20byork%20collection

    7 minute read

    Fri 11 Sep 2020
    Campbell Rhodes

    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.

    Read article

    Hor%20ballot%20paper%20cropped

    8 minute read

    Wed 9 Sep 2020
    Andrew Goodwin

    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.

    Read article

    Australian%20war%20memorial%20workmen

    5 minute read

    Fri 28 Aug 2020
    Brian Leadbeatter

    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. 

    Read article

    Principal%20parliamentart%20reporter%20john%20campbell%20in%20his%20office

    7 minute read

    Fri 31 Jul 2020
    Alex McDermott

    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.

    Read article

    People%20voting%20during%20the%20election%20festival%202016

    8 minute read

    Thu 2 Jul 2020
    Brian Leadbeatter

    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.

    Read article

    Bathurst football club 4e66dea195097 2

    8 minute read

    Mon 18 May 2020
    Rose Mackie

    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.

    Read article

    Itp96%20scott

    10 minute read

    Tue 12 May 2020
    Brian Leadbeatter

    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. 

    Read article

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    Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

    18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

    PO Box 3934
    Manuka ACT 2603

    Open daily 9am - 5pm
    Last entry is at 4pm

    ABN: 30 620 774 963

    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

    Enquiries:
    info@moadoph.gov.au

    Research library

    Please note: video surveillance is used 24 hours a day around and throughout the building and may be used for research purposes

    If the museum is closed due to an emergency, call for new opening times: 1800 716 066

    Visiting

    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access for people with disabilities
    • Group bookings
    • Café
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library

    What's On

    • Events
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    Collection

    • The building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Highlights
    • Oral histories

    Learning

    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents

    Democracy

    • Exploring democracy
    • Documenting a democracy
    • Australian democracy
    • Defining democracy

    About

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    Questions about the website:
    website@moadoph.gov.au

    The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet