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Behind the Lines 2022: the year in political cartoons
Behind the Lines 2022: Work from some of Australia's best political cartoonists peering out into the great unknown, boldly going where no one has gone before
Behind the Lines 2021: The year in political cartoons
Behind the Lines 2021: Work from some of Australia's best political cartoonists rummaging in the fortune-teller’s chest for a crystal ball
Behind the Lines 2020: The year in political cartoons
Behind the Lines 2020: Work from some of Australia's best political cartoonists help make sense of a dog's breakfast of a year.
Behind the Lines 2019: The year’s best political cartoons
The Greatest Hits Tour. It was a loud and noisy year in 2019 as the battle of the bands played out at home, while some big acts overseas were cranking up the volume.
The #UDHRquilt Project
The #UDHRquilt Project features never before seen work from a global craftivism project. Stitching in local and global stories; see the intricate detail of these quilts that represent the world’s conscience.
Behind the Lines 2018: The year’s best political cartoons
Venture down the rabbit hole to Behind the Lines 2018, our perennially popular exhibition of the year’s best political cartoons.
Breaking Through: 75 years of women in Parliament
An online celebration of trailblazing women who have broken through barriers in federal parliament and beyond
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Democracy. Are you in?
Dissatisfaction and trust in our politicians and democratic institutions is falling. Australia’s democracy is one of the best in the world but we can’t be complacent – imagine life without it. Our democracy needs us. Are you in?
Yes: The Ongoing Story of the 1967 Referendum
The national referendum on 27 May 1967 was a major milestone in the democratic journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Behind the Lines 2017: The year’s best political cartoons
Behind the Lines 2017: The Year's Best Political Cartoons condenses a year of political highs and lows into 80 of the best cartoons of the year.
Behind the Lines 2016: The year in political cartoons
Behind the Lines 2016: Work from some of Australia's best political cartoonists. Top hat crowns and daggers: what is your political destiny?
#OPHis90
This timeline tracks the reports in the Canberra Times and the anticipation, anxieties and pleasures surrounding the opening of what would become one of Australia’s most iconic buildings.
For the Record #HansART
For the Record #HansART is an all-ages project that shines a light on the records of Hansard.
Behind the Lines 2015: The year’s best political cartoons
Behind the Lines: The Year’s Best Political Cartoons condenses a year of political highs and lows into 80 of the best cartoons of 2015.
Magna Carta and Modern Australia
Explore Magna Carta and discover how people have used this medieval document to shape modern Australia.
Celebrating 50 years since Wave Hill
On 22 August 1966 Vincent Lingiari, a Gurindji spokesman, led a walkout of 200 Aboriginal stockmen, house servants, and their families from Wave Hill cattle station.
Australian Federal election speeches
Each election, Prime Ministerial candidates lay out their parties’ platforms in campaign speeches. These speeches are more than just historical records; they tell us about national concerns and political obsessions. We’ve collected speeches by candidates from every election from 1901 to the present day.
Menzies’ 1941 Diary
In 1941 Prime Minister Robert Menzies went to wartime London to secure Australia’s defence position. He travelled via the British stronghold in Singapore and visited Australia’s troops serving in the Middle East. Menzies’ diary is a candid record of decision-making in foreign and military policy, as well as being a fascinating account of his journey.
The Petrov Affair
The defection of the Petrovs came to be regarded by Western intelligence services as one of the most important of the Cold War era. The Petrov Affair had a profound and lasting impact on the Australian political landscape, with the Labor Party Split a direct consequence of the events of 1954-1955.
Dismissed! Whitlam, Fraser, Kerr and the story of 1975
In 1972, following twenty-three years of Liberal-Country Party Government, Australians decided ‘it’s time’ for change. The Labor Party was swept into Government on a wave of popular support. Three years later, Labor’s government was abruptly terminated amidst a storm of controversy.
Billy Hughes at War
Explore the activities and resources about Prime Minister Billy Hughes, the conscription debate and Australia’s involvement in the peace negotiations. Billy Hughes led Australia as prime minister through some of the hardest years of the First World War. His actions and decisions give a personal insight into some of the key issues of the war.
Discovering Mildenhall’s Canberra
The Mildenhall Collection of photographs documents the early development of Australia’s capital city, Canberra, from the 1920s to the 1930s. The collection comprises more than 7,700 images on glass plate negatives and has significant cultural and historical value to Australians.
Behind the Lines 2014
Behind the Lines: The Year’s Best Political Cartoons condenses a year of political highs and lows into 80 of the best cartoons of 2014.
John Frith: the art of politics
The museum has a significant collection of original cartoons and sculptures by John Frith, one of Australia’s most prolific and celebrated cartoonists and artists. Frith’s career spanned forty years, most famously at The Herald in Melbourne, in which all of the featured cartoons were published.
Menzies by Howard
To mark the 75th anniversary of Robert Menzies becoming prime minister for the first time, the Museum of Australian Democracy invited former prime minister and admirer of Menzies, John Howard, to guest curate this exhibition.
Art is a Weapon
Art is a Weapon takes you back to an Australia gripped by the Cold War. Amid propaganda for and against communism, artists turned to an image familiar to most Australians; the Southern Cross flag of the Eureka Stockade.
Getting it together
Using historical sources such as newspaper extracts, cartoons, speeches and biographies, the Getting it Together website contains a series of activities for students to explore in the classroom.
Behind the Lines 2013
Behind the Lines 2013 tells the tale of broken parliamentary alliances, caucus instability, leadership spills, prime ministerial change, corruption scandals, cabinet reshuffles, policies and opinion polls—a selection of works from Australia’s best political cartoonists, chosen from almost 900 submissions, as well as cartoons from the museum’s own collection.
Behind the Lines: The Year’s Best Cartoons 2012
This exhibition celebrates Australia’s wonderful tradition of political cartooning. Published in newspapers, journals and online, these cartoons provide an opportunity to reflect on the state of Australian politics and expose the robust nature of Australian democracy.
Marnti Warajanga—a walk together
The struggle for equality, self-determination, and financial independence has been fought through significant national movements, and continues to rely on activism at a local level. The Marnti Warajanga—a walk together introduces people from of the Pilbara region in Australia’s north-west as they reflect on their journey towards equality in their own country.
Mrs. Prime Minister
Meet 26 remarkable women who have been wives to prime ministers from 1901 to 2010. Prior to Julia Gillard becoming Australia’s first female prime minister in 2010, most Australian prime ministers took office with a woman at their side. Each prime minister’s wife interpreted her role according to her special interests, and where she felt she could have most impact.
Wear your colours
Explore our collection of political badges, learn about important events and social movements, and read touching and inspiring accounts from people who wore some of these badges.