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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

Pairing up: What is pairing in parliament?
Democracy

Pairing up: What is pairing in parliament?

How 'pairing' works in Australia's federal parliament.

Vale Reg Withers
History

Vale Reg Withers

In remembrance of Reginald Withers.

Seven politicians that famously switched sides
History

Seven politicians that famously switched sides

What prompted these politicians to leave their party of origin?

Dr Evatt Goes to San Francisco
History

Dr Evatt Goes to San Francisco

How the United Nations was formed.

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

We’re gonna party like it’s 1988!

COLLECTION

Non-Members’ Bar life membership tags 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.
Michael Darby’s campaign matchbook

Michael Darby’s campaign matchbook

More than an unassuming piece of campaign material, this matchbook has a story to tell.

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.