MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. Some exhibitions and rooms will be closed from September 2025 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

We’re gonna party like it’s 1988!
Heritage

We’re gonna party like it’s 1988!

How the move to Australian Parliament House was celebrated.

It’s Bennelong time
History

It’s Bennelong time

How these museum objects tell stories of past members for Bennelong.

Free votes: a quick explainer
Democracy

Free votes: a quick explainer

When politicians are given the option to stand by their principles.

Mr Speaker!
Heritage

Mr Speaker!

The role of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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

Barber's chair Barber's chair

Barber's chair

Not a hair out of place.
Non-Members’ Bar life membership tags

Non-Members’ Bar life membership tags

From 1946, a lively bar was provided for ‘non-members’ of parliament at the provisional Parliament House.

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?