Government and politics | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Government and politics

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Collection guide
Anti-slavery movement in the United States

Microform collections documenting the anti-slavery movement from the 18th-20th centuries and selected monographs

Collection guide
Four men seated at a table and one man sitting behind them

Sir Percy Spender, Photograph from Box 13 of the Spender Papers, Papers of Sir Percy Spender, 1937-1978, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2759673

Australia's Journey with the World Bank with Dr Nicholas Ferns

Dr Nicholas Ferns presented a lecture on his 2024 National Library Fellowship research into the history of the relationship between Australia and the World Bank, with a particular focus on the connections between international finance and national development.

Event
Video
Two demonstrators stand on a structure at Parliament House, Canberra, raising their arms in the air beside an Australian Coat of Arms sculpture. A large peace flag is draped over the emblem. The black-and-white image captures the scene from below, with a cloudy sky in the background.

Sean Davey, Demonstrators drape a peace flag over the Coat of Arms, Iraq War protest, Great Verandah, Parliament House, Canberra, 2003, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147381669

Protest and dissent

Use this guide to help find and access resources about the movements that have shaped social and cultural change in Australia.

Research guide
Black and white photo of two women, Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons, walking together towards the entrance of Old Parliament House

Photo of Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons entering Parliament House in 1943, from the Papers of Dorothy Margaret Tangney, 1938-1986, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3190082597

'They gave me a marvellous reception': Australian women, democracy and the 1943 Federal Election

Explore the papers of three women involved in the 1943 Federal Election: Enid Lyons, Dorothy Tangney and Jessie Street.

Blog
A bold poster with stacked red text in different fonts reads: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, REFERENDUM, 1916 (MILITARY SERVICE), POLLING: SATURDAY, 28th October, 1916, Commonwealth Electoral Rolls close Monday, 18th Sept., 1916  ARE YOU CORRECTLY ENROLLED for the Electoral Subdivision for which you are entitled to be enrolled? Qualified persons who fail to enrol are liable to a PENALTY OF TWO POUNDS. J. G. McLAREN, Commonwealth Electoral Officer for the State of New South Wales. Sydney, 5th September, 1916.

McLaren, J. G and Commonwealth Electoral Office (Australia) issuing body, Referendum, 1916 (military service) : are you correctly enrolled for the electoral subdivision for which you are entitled to be enrolled? Sydney, 1916, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-348412875

Electoral rolls research guide

Find out how to use electoral rolls to locate your family members or other peoples location or addresses over the years and who was living with them.

Research guide
People standing holding colourful corflutes/posters from the 2013 election

Corflutes donated from the 2013 election, with NLA staff members

Thank you for bringing Australian democracy to life

We are grateful to our donors who generously gave over $320,000 to help make our election ephemera collection available to the world on Trove. Your support will allow us to share the vivid story of our Australian democracy.

News article
People standing holding colourful corflutes/posters from the 2013 election

Corflutes donated from the 2013 election, with NLA staff members

The National Library of Australia seeks help to digitise and share the story of democracy down under

The National Library of Australia is seeking community support to digitise its unique collection of election ephemera.

News article
Blue tile
United States Congressional publications and information

United States congressional publications are of interest as primary sources for students of United States history, for United States foreign and economic policy, and for other public affairs issues of interest to other countries.

Research guide
A printed invitation to meet Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in celebration of the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia

Julian Ashton & Howard Ashton & Otto Von Drehnen, (1901), [An invitation to meet Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in celebration of the opening of the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135825982

Federation research guide

On 1 January 1901, the six existing self-governing British colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, came together in union to create the Commonwealth of Australia.

Research guide
A picture of Queen Victoria at the House of Lords to open the first Parliament of her reign

C. E Wagstaff & George Baxter, (1841), The arrival of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria at the House of Lords to open the first Parliament of her reign, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136108572

British Parliament research guide

British Parliamentary publications are valuable primary sources for research into British and dominion history, including Australia.

Research guide
A sepia-toned book cover with a faint handwritten text background features a historic image of people holding protest signs.

Bain Attwood and Andrew Markus, The 1967 referendum race, power and the Australian Constitution, 2007, nla.gov.au/catalog/3966879

1967 Referendum research guide

Access key resources from the Library's collection related to the lead-up to the 1967 referendum, the significance of the historic 'Yes' vote, and its ongoing legacy in the pursuit of justice, equality, and recognition for First Australians.

First Australians
Research guide
Front page of the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, with a large image of the Australian coat of arms at the top

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 1, 1 January 1901, in which the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed from the Papers of Sir Edmund Barton, 1827-1940, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224669092

Government gazettes research guide

Use this guide for tips and hints for finding and using Government gazettes in your research.

Research guide

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