MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. The chambers will be closed from 17-18 October for the Canberra Writers Festival. Some exhibitions and rooms are closed for essential building works. Learn more

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

What bees can teach us about democracy
Your voice

What bees can teach us about democracy

How honeybees work collectively

When Jack Lang was dismissed as Premier of New South Wales
History

When Jack Lang was dismissed as Premier of New South Wales

A look at the first dismissal of an Australian political leader.

How Billy Hughes lost the 1916 conscription referendum
History

How Billy Hughes lost the 1916 conscription referendum

A look at the reasons why Australia didn't adopt conscription during the First World War.

How are party leaders chosen?
Democracy

How are party leaders chosen?

The way parties choose their leaders is a critical part of the parliamentary system, with basic principles.

Could a post-Brexit Britain learn something from compulsory voting in Australia?
Democracy

Could a post-Brexit Britain learn something from compulsory voting in Australia?

COLLECTION

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

First class travel for the wife of the prime minister.
Richard Di Natale's rainbow-painted shoes

Richard Di Natale's rainbow-painted shoes

Rainbows in the Senate.

DEMOCRACY

Australian democracy Defining democracy

Australian democracy

Every democratic society is distinct. The same is true for Australia.
Defining democracy Defining democracy

Defining democracy

What is democracy?