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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

The Father of the House
History

The Father of the House

A look at the political career of Philip Ruddock and what being the Father of the House means.

Artists and activists: The Ongoing Adventures of X and Ray
Your voice

Artists and activists: The Ongoing Adventures of X and Ray

A spotlight on the Indigenous artist Lin Onus.

Credit, debit and loss: the banking records of Harold Holt
History

Credit, debit and loss: the banking records of Harold Holt

What we can learn from personal papers.

Why do we have elections anyway?
Democracy

Why do we have elections anyway?

Find out why you are required to vote in free, democratic elections.

What does one do after leaving the top job?
History

What does one do after leaving the top job?

COLLECTION

Embroidered cushion gifted to Arthur Calwell Embroidered cushion gifted to Arthur Calwell

Embroidered cushion gifted to Arthur Calwell

A symbol of a substantial change in government policy.
One of Ben Chifley's pipes

One of Ben Chifley's pipes

A gift from Ben Chifley to his driver.

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.