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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

A seat at the table
Your voice

A seat at the table

Voting rights: an Australian story

Why wear a badge at election time?
History

Why wear a badge at election time?

Elections aren’t just about voting.

Five famous Australian cross-party friendships
History

Five famous Australian cross-party friendships

How some politicians formed unexpected friendships.

Reflections of Bob Hawke in Old Parliament House
Heritage

Reflections of Bob Hawke in Old Parliament House

How Bob Hawke felt about his time as Prime Minister at both houses of parliament.

Lowering the voting age
History

Lowering the voting age

COLLECTION

Letter from Earle Page to his son on his 21st birthday Letter from Earle Page to his son on his 21st birthday

Letter from Earle Page to his son on his 21st birthday

Fatherly advice from a future prime minister.
Commonwealth Match Works vesta case

Commonwealth Match Works vesta case

Pocket-sized cylindrical boxes for matches, were popular in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1900s.

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.