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Explore

Democracy

Democracy

Aretha Brown, a young woman, holds a banner at a protest rally with a fist raised in the air.

Stories

Stories

Black and white image of the front of Old Parliament House with a crowd of people of gathered at the foot of the stairs. The building is white with columns and an Australian flag flies at the top.

Collection

Collection

A close up of a rainbow flag covered in signatures.

POLITICAL CARTOONS

Browse Behind the Lines, our annual exhibition celebrating the year's best political cartoons.

Explore
Visitors looking at the framed cartoons on the walls

STORIES

Why wear a badge at election time?
History

Why wear a badge at election time?

Elections aren’t just about voting.

Sixty years of service: John Campbell
Heritage

Sixty years of service: John Campbell

A look at the extensive career of a Hansard reporter.

What did our early PMs sound like?
History

What did our early PMs sound like?

Descriptions and sounds from the past.

A plebiscite milestone: 100 years on from the 1917 conscription debates
History

A plebiscite milestone: 100 years on from the 1917 conscription debates

How Australian voters rejected conscription during the First World War.

Pets in the spotlight
Heritage

Pets in the spotlight

COLLECTION

One of Ben Chifley's pipes One of Ben Chifley's pipes

One of Ben Chifley's pipes

A gift from Ben Chifley to his driver.
Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Lift the handle and listen for the dial tone.

DEMOCRACY

Defining democracy Australian democracy

Defining democracy

What is democracy?
Australian democracy Australian democracy

Australian democracy

Every democratic society is distinct. The same is true for Australia.