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.

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Visitors looking at the framed cartoons on the walls

STORIES

Seven women who made Australian history
History

Seven women who made Australian history

How these women changed the political landscape in Australia.

Celebrating Neville Bonner, the first Indigenous federal parliamentarian
History

Celebrating Neville Bonner, the first Indigenous federal parliamentarian

Learn about the life of Jagera man Neville Bonner AO.

Coalition governments: what are they and how do they work?
Democracy

Coalition governments: what are they and how do they work?

The origin of coalition governments in Australia.

Five famous Australian cross-party friendships
History

Five famous Australian cross-party friendships

How some politicians formed unexpected friendships.

Seven women who made Australian history
History

Seven women who made Australian history

COLLECTION

President of the Senate’s signet ring President of the Senate’s signet ring

President of the Senate’s signet ring

Australia’s first ever President of the Senate likely commissioned this gold and bloodstone signet ring.
Women's Electoral Lobby vinyl record

Women's Electoral Lobby vinyl record

Music with a message.

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?