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.

xClose
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • About
  • Blog
  • Prime Ministers
  • Websites
  • Venue hire
  • Visiting
  • What's On
  • Collection
  • Learning
  • Democracy
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • Visiting
    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library
  • What’s On
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
  • Collection
    • The Building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Oral Histories
  • Learning
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents
  • Democracy
    • Democracy 2025
    • Defining democracy
    • Australian democracy: an overview
    • The democratic audit of Australia
    • One thing I like about democracy
    • Links
    • Quotes
    • Notes
    • About
    • Blog
    • Prime Ministers
    • Websites
    • Venue hire
    From the blog

    From the oral history collection: The Hon. Chris Hurford AO

    2 minute read

    Mon 23 Nov 2015 by
    Dr Barry York
    • oral history
    • research

    Chris Hurford was a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Adelaide from 1969 to 1987. He played a key role in the development of Australia's skills-oriented immigration policy as Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs from 1984 to 1987.

    In this edited excerpt from an interview in the Oral History collection, Mr. Hurford recalls the controversies in the 1980s surrounding Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, the Imam of the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, and the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran against Salman Rushdie’s book, Satanic Verses.

    As Minister, in 1986, Hurford wanted Hilaly deported. He clarifies how Hilaly ended up being allowed to remain in Australia. “I might have resigned over it”, he says. In 1987, he was moved from the Immigration and Ethnic Affairs portfolio to Community Services, previously held by Don Grimes.

    Listen on…

    The interview was recorded by Barry York in 2015 as part of the Old Parliament House Parliamentary and Political Oral History Project, conducted in cooperation with the National Library of Australia. The full interview is not currently available online but is available upon request at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Please contact the museum prior to your visit and quote the reference number OHI 463.

    2 minute read

    Mon 23 Nov 2015 by
    Dr Barry York
    • oral history
    • research
    The Hon Chris Hurford AO. Photographer: Dr Barry York. Museum of Australian Democracy collection.

    The Hon Chris Hurford AO. Photographer: Dr Barry York. Museum of Australian Democracy collection.

    Barry York was an historian at MoAD for ten years from 2006. His email is barryyork554@gmail.com To mark the 50th anniversary of the Waterdale Road marches, he has undertaken a self-funded oral history project, recording memories of some participants.

    Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

    18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

    PO Box 3934
    Manuka ACT 2603

    9am to 5pm daily 
    Closed Christmas Day

    ABN: 30 620 774 963

    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

    Enquiries:
    info@moadoph.gov.au

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

    Visiting

    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library

    What's On

    • Events
    • Exhibitions

    Collection

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

    Learning

    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents

    Democracy

    • Exploring democracy
    • Documenting a democracy
    • Australian democracy
    • Defining democracy
    • Democracy 2025

    About

    • OPH Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Budget
    • Corporate documents
    • Disability Inclusion Action Plan
    • Employment
    • Freedom of information
    • Public Interest Disclosure
    • Media
    • Newsletter
    • Support us
    • Partnerships
    • Our prime minister patrons
    • Donate to our collection
    • eCommerce terms and conditions
    • Online house rules

    Blog

    Prime Ministers

    Websites

    Further information

    View our recruitment opportunities.

    View our copyright policy.

    View our privacy statement.

    View our ticketing terms and conditions.

    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 Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts