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Democracy

How it works, why it matters and the power of your role in it.

Democracy 101

What is democracy?

What is democracy?

Photograph of a person holding a senate paper.

Australian democracy

Australian democracy

A mother holds her baby and smiles at the camera at the front of Old Parliament House. A row of people waiting to vote are behind her. She holds a sausage sandwich.

What is a referendum?

What is a referendum?

An illustrated letter C with the words C is for constitution.

What is a double dissolution?

What is a double dissolution?

Hazel and Bob Hawke sit with three journalists at a table in the National Tally Room in 1983. There is a large map of Australia behind them on the wall.

How to vote in Australia

How to vote in Australia

People wearing colourful boardshorts and beachwear stand at polling booths at a polling station in Sydney's Bondi Beach.

The sizzling history of the democracy sausage

The sizzling history of the democracy sausage

Two women wearing brightly coloured purple tops and a man in a jacket and hat stand in front of Old Parliament House holding sausage sandwiches.

'WE'VE BEEN SACKED': THE 1975 WHITLAM GOVERNMENT DISMISSAL

For the first time in Australian history, the governor-general dismissed a prime minister and government. How did this constitutional crisis happen?

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Gough Whitlam on the steps of Old Parliament House surrounded by the press who are holding microphones and video cameras on 11 November 1975.

Milestones in Australian democracy

Prime minister biographies

Prime minister biographies

MP John Brumby (left) and Prime Minister Bob Hawke (centre) join colleagues in the Senate Committee Room for a beer and a laugh.

Founding documents of our democracy

Founding documents of our democracy

A white parchment with blue elegant calligraphy and the title Victoria Regin AE AD 1894.

Every election speech from 1901 - 2022

Every election speech from 1901 - 2022

A row of desks in a U shape with green leather.

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1916: Conscription

1916: Conscription

Australians were asked to vote on whether men in National Service could be deployed to fight in World War One.

What is a double dissolution?

What is a double dissolution?

Everything you need to know about a double dissolution.

1977: National Song Poll

1977: National Song Poll

Australians were asked to pick a song for the national anthem in 1977.

Behind the lines

Behind the lines

Explore political cartoons in Behind the Lines exhibitions online.

Stories

Stories

Deep dive into stories about Old Parliament House, Australian history and democracy.

1928: State debts

1928: State debts

The 1928 referendum asked Australians to change the way finances were managed by the Commonwealth and states.