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

A perfect dress rehearsal for the grand opening of Parliament House
Heritage

A perfect dress rehearsal for the grand opening of Parliament House

How preparations in 1926 were made for the opening of Parliament House in 1927.

The families from number 18
Heritage

The families from number 18

A look back at family life in Old Parliament House.

Why wear a badge at election time?
History

Why wear a badge at election time?

Elections aren’t just about voting.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
History

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

The role of CHOGM for Commonwealth governments.

Leadership spills plague Australian politics, but what does our system protect us from?
Democracy

Leadership spills plague Australian politics, but what does our system protect us from?

COLLECTION

Multifone telephone used by William McMahon Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Lift the handle and listen for the dial tone.
Threepenny internment camp tokens

Threepenny internment camp tokens

A different kind of currency.

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.