On the evening of Monday, 19 July, the House of Representatives and half the Senate were dissolved, writs were issued for a general election, and both the federal government and the Australian Public Service went into caretaker mode. What does ‘caretaker’ mean in this context? It’s a long-established convention which goes to the heart of our democratic system and the ideas of responsible government that underpin it. Find out more in our Prime Fact 63, The Caretaker Conventions in Australia available for download
Uncensored Conversations is a speaker series that could only take place in a true democracy. In May and June 2010, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will host a forum that will see well-known Australians share their thoughts on the hottest topics shaping our democracy. The topics are:
Immigration, asylum seekers and refugees: What is the real impact? (11 May)
Involvement or intrusion: Where is the line for our Government? (27 May)
Freedom of speech and censorship: How free are we? (15 June)
Seats are limited: reserve your free tickets now by email
The Uncensored Conversations forums are free events and registration…
Update: Congratulations to Ethan from Dunlop ACT, aged 7, who won our January promotion of a $500 voucher to Toys R Us from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Congratulations Ethan!
In 25 words or less, Ethan described what democracy means to him: “Having a say in what the rules are in my year two class and at home. My vote is worth the same as everyone else.”
Visit the museum during January to go into the draw to win a $500 Toys‘R’Us voucher, by exploring the family-friendly Hands-on-Democracy exhibition.
Simply complete the form when you visit the exhibition and in 25 words or less tell us ‘what democracy means to…
On 13 October 2009 Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State, announced the recipients of 9 Australian Prime Ministers Centre Fellowships for 2009-2010. Now in its third year, the APMC Research and Scholarship Program is proving to be a valuable—and popular—initiative. The program supports scholars, creative workers and researchers working in the fields of political science and history, with Australia’s prime ministers and how they shaped the Australia we live in today as a major part of their focus. The Fellowships are selected by an independent selection panel convened by Old Parliament House representing…
Have you ever wondered why the Museum of Australian Democracy was established? In fact, the idea of a Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House was one which was developed over more than 20 years. Many people had a hand in bringing the idea of such an institution to fruition. In 2006 the Howard government allocated funds to develop the Old Parliament House building as a museum of Australian democracy. After three years of planning and development, in May 2009 the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House was opened by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, who was the last serving Prime Minister at Old Parliament House before…
As Australia went onto a war footing, seventy years ago the Australian Parliament readied itself for action. ‘Strained relations exist with Germany. … Take necessary action in accordance with Commonwealth and Departmental War Books’, the Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Department wrote to the Clerks of the Houses on 2 September 1939. A day later Robert Menzies sadly announced that we were at war, broadcasting from the Commonwealth Offices in Melbourne: ‘It is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result,…
The museum has lost a significant contributor to its recent history. Fred Brenchley, who died Saturday 29 August, joined the Governing Council of what was then known as Old Parliament House, in 2005. He had only recently been reappointed to the new museum’s Advisory Council. Fred brought his wide knowledge and a keen sense of what made history memorable to the Council’s discussions, and built a strong relationship with museum staff and other members of its Council.
He was a strong advocate for the widening of the museum’s mission beyond the period in which Federal Parliament sat in the building, coining the phrase ‘Gallery of Australian Demo…
The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House opened on the weekend of 9 May 2009 in Canberra. It’s the first and only museum in Australia dedicated to telling the story of our democracy. The new Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will connect Australians with more than 2000 years of history and heritage within a network of exhibitions that will trace democracy from its earliest origins through the stories of real people using their voice to achieve extraordinary things. The Museum was opened by the the last prime minister to serve in the House - the Hon RJL Hawke AC. He was joined by Chairman of the Advisory…
In the latest issue of Run of the House (download here) we look at some of the events coming up as part of the opening of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House on 9 May. The What’s on your mind? debate is designed to involve everyday Australians in the democratic process in a fun and engaging way. Until now, people have been able to suggest well-known Australians they would like to see participate in the debate, vote on social and cultural topics, and comment on these topics. Now Australians can vote for who they would like to see debate.
Australians have participated in the campaign by voting for the topic ‘most on their…
The latest issue of the Old Parliament House newsletter, ‘Run of the House’, is now available for download. This and future issues of Run of the House will also be available for download on our media page. In this issue of the newsletter our Director, Jenny Anderson, reflects on the announcement, made by Special Minister of State, Senator John Faulkner, on 18 February 2009 that Old Parliament House will become the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House on 9 May 2009.
Senator Faulkner also announced that celebrated Australian actor and writer William McInnes has been appointed as the new Chair of the Old Parliament House Advisory…
