Democracy

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results
Young man, maybe late teens, wearing a grey shirt with a 'Friends of the Earth' armband wearing a gas mask

Soc Hedditch, A youth wearing a gas mask and a Friends of the Earth armband demonstrates against French nuclear testing in the Pacific, Adelaide 1972, nla.obj-146561887

Anti-war protests

Use this guide to help find and access resources in our collection about the Nuclear Disarmament movement, protests against the Vietnam War and protests against the Iraq War.

Research guide
Vincent Lingiari addresses a crowd at a microphone while Gough Whitlam stands beside him. Several people are visible in the background, observing.

Penny Tweedie & Australian Information Service, Elder Vincent Lingiari of the Gurindji Language group, addressing the media after Prime Minister Gough Whitlam officially returns Aboriginal land at Wattie Creek, Northern Territory, 16 August 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138156433

Workers rights movement

Use this guide to help find and access resources in our collection about the Eureka Stockade, the formation of trade unions, the Cummeragunja Walk-off, the Pilbara Strike and the Gurindji Strike/Wave Hill Walk Off.

Research guide
A large field filled with colorful heart-shaped signs, some with messages and images, displayed on the grass. Old Parliament House is visible in the background.

Loui Seselja, View over the field of hearts display, with old Parliament House in background, United Nations World Refugee Day and Field of Hearts event, Canberra, 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-130943483

Civil rights movements

Use this guide to help find and access resources in our collection about the Aboriginal Day of Mourning, the Freedom Ride, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy protest, the Cronulla Riots and the Black Lives Matter protests.

Research guide
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, politics and elections research guide

Use this guide to help find and access materials from the Library's extensive collections on Australian politics and government.

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
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
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
Three pieces of ephemera from the 2023 Referendum

A selection of publicly donated referendum items in our collection.

​​Collecting the 2023 Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice​

The National Library of Australia is calling on all Australians to help collect campaign material from the 2023 Referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Media release
A photo of a large number of protestors gathered in front of the Victorian state library.

Francis Reiss, Protesters gathered outside the State Library in Swanston Street, Melbourne peace rally, 14 February 2003, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147324313

Participation and protest

Module 

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Civics and Citizenship for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry-based learning approach that develops a student’s understanding of Australians’ rights, freedoms and opportunities to participate in Australia’s democracy.

Digital Classroom
Collection guide
Kenafick Collection

Personal papers from 1938-1974 plus pamphlets, leaflets and other publications relating to socialist, communist, anti-communist and peace organisations in both Australia and overseas.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Latham Collection

Papers of the barrister and politician Sir John Latham, including correspondence, family and personal documents, notes, speeches, diaries, minute books, account books, cuttings, photographs, pamphlets, invitations, menus, programs, receipts, maps and tourist publications.

Collection guide

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