MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. Some exhibitions and rooms are closed 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

What does a state governor do?
Democracy

What does a state governor do?

A closer look at the role of State Governors in Australia.

Let's get this party started: starting your own political party in Australia
Democracy

Let's get this party started: starting your own political party in Australia

Some considerations on forming a political party.

The history of facial hair and politics
History

The history of facial hair and politics

From the portraits of our first Prime Ministers, it is apparent than personal grooming has changed remarkably.

Is it compulsory to like compulsory voting?
Democracy

Is it compulsory to like compulsory voting?

How compulsory voting influences individuals in a democracy.

Credit, debit and loss: the banking records of Harold Holt
History

Credit, debit and loss: the banking records of Harold Holt

COLLECTION

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

First class travel for the wife of the prime minister.
Dining room chair

Dining room chair

A workhorse chair you can still sit on today.

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?