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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

Butting out a ciggie in Old Parliament House
Heritage

Butting out a ciggie in Old Parliament House

How smokers 'did the right thing' at Old Parliament House.

Is it compulsory to like compulsory voting?
Democracy

Is it compulsory to like compulsory voting?

How compulsory voting influences individuals in a democracy.

A short history of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy - an indelible reminder of unceded sovereignty
History

A short history of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy - an indelible reminder of unceded sovereignty

Read about the significance of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.

A horse’s tale: Bill, Bertie and Bairnsdale 303
Heritage

A horse’s tale: Bill, Bertie and Bairnsdale 303

How a horse almost upstaged royalty at the opening ceremony for Old Parliament House.

Breaking up is hard to do: secession in Australia
History

Breaking up is hard to do: secession in Australia

COLLECTION

1901 opening of the first Commonwealth parliament invitations 1901 opening of the first Commonwealth parliament invitations

1901 opening of the first Commonwealth parliament invitations

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ernest Williams and his wife's invitations to the event of the year.

Barber's chair

Barber's chair

Not a hair out of place.

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?