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Government and politics

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Text in a retro font reading '1975 Living in the Seventies' on a bright orange background
1975: Living in the Seventies

Look back on life in the 70s including politics, feminism, pop culture, news of the day, and more.

Exhibition
detail of illustration of crowd listening to a man on stage

Hume-Cook, James, Liberal, Division of Bourke, VIC (detail), 1910, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3548960192

Australian democracy finds a home on Trove

Explore election ephemera from 1901 to 1970s, now online.

News article
A man wearing a face mask leaning against a tree that is decorated with a face mask and eyes outside the NGV in Melbourne

Leigh Henningham, A tree decorated in face mask outside the National Gallery of Victoria, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Melbourne, Victoria, 26 April 2020, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2726498492

Australian responses to COVID-19

Listen to interviews with Australian's sharing their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blog
Sepia photograph of four men and a woman having a conversation in business attire.

Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A6180, 28/8/72/59.

International students and the Australian community

Dr Anna Kent discussed her recent Fellowship research focused on Australia's international education history.

Event
Video
Guy Hansen holding a book in the 1975 exhibition gallery

Dr Guy Hansen in the 1975: Living in the Seventies exhibition gallery

Learn with the curators of 1975: Living in the Seventies

Discover new stories held within our collection and build on conversations steeped in nostalgia, curiosity and transformation. 

Learning activity for adults
Video
Black and white photo of Gough Whitlam speaking at Parliament House surrounded by reporters

Australian Information Service, Gough Whitlam speaking on the steps of Parliament House, Parliament House, Canberra, 11 November 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147274349

Images of the Dismissal

On the 50th anniversary of the ‘Dismissal’ learn about one of the most controversial events in Australian political history.

Blog
Two newspaper front covers in a display case. The headline on both reads, 'Vietnam waifs fly in'.
Elaine Moir: ‘The waif smuggler’ during the Vietnam War

Exploring 1975: The Vietnam War and Operation Babylift

Blog
A black and white photograph of a man in a suit standing in front of flagpoles with the US and Australian flags
Power and vision: Australia and the South Pacific Commission

2025 National Library of Australia Fellow Dr Alexis Bergantz shared his Fellowship research on the history of the South Pacific Commission.

Event
Video
Group of Papua New Guineans in traditional dress, including feathered headpieces, at the Independence Day Celebration.

Terence and Margaret Spencer, Independence Day Celebration, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145645567

Papua New Guinea: 50 years of Independence

Explore parliamentary debates relating to the Independence of Papua New Guinea.

Blog
View of the Australian House of Representatives in Parliament House from slightly above. Members of the House of Representatives sit throughout the room, and members of the public sit in allocated areas

Sean Davey, Members of parliament in the House of Representatives during the debate of the Marriage Amendment Bill, Parliament House, Canberra, 7 December 2017, 1, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-735401237

Government and politics research guide

Find key resources from federal, state, territory and local governments, explore notable collections and discover how to access materials that have shaped Australia’s political history.

Research guide
black and white photo of 1899 Australian Referendum results

Australian Federation Referendum Results 1899, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136434299

Political history

Find Australian political memorabilia and historical records which throw light on the influences and changes that have shaped our politics and political systems over the decades.

Research guide
People standing, sitting at desks, and filming with news cameras in a brightly lit room

Mark Arundel, National Tally Room as seen from the second floor of the tally board during the Australian Federal Elections, Canberra, 24 November 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148469746

Elections and referendums

Elections and referendums are key turning points in Australia’s political history.

Research guide

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