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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.

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.

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.
A voter puts a ballot paper in a cardboard ballot box while an AEC official dressed in a purple AEC vest looks on. They are in King's Hall in Old Parliament House.

WHAT IS THE SECRET BALLOT?

Along with the invention of the democracy sausage, Australia pioneered the modern secret ballot, or the Australian ballot as it is known.

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'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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Stories

Stories

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

1999: Republic referendum

1999: Republic referendum

In 1999 Australia voted no to replacing the Queen as our head of state with a president.

1937: Aviation

1937: Aviation

A 1937 referendum asked Australians if the Commonwealth should regulate air travel.

1946: Social Services referendum

1946: Social Services referendum

The 1946 referendum led to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme and the beginnings of universal healthcare.

Collection

Collection

Our collection captures the ideas, movements, people and events of Australian democracy.

'We've been sacked': the 1975 Whitlam government dismissal

'We've been sacked': the 1975 Whitlam government dismissal

For the first time in Australian history, a governor-general dismissed a prime minister and government.