Latest news with #MuseumofAustralianDemocracy
Canberra Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Canberra Times
MoAD preserving the legacy of trailblazer 'Bluey' Thomson
MoAD preserving the legacy of trailblazer 'Bluey' Thomson John Howard AC surrounded by media as he announces the resignation of Senator Peter Baume. Picture Graeme Thomson/Newspix This is branded content for the Museum of Australian Democracy. The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD) is launching its 2025 Annual Appeal to help preserve a vital piece of Australia's visual history. Donations to the appeal will help MoAD to conserve, research and archive its newly-acquired Graeme 'Bluey' Thomson Collection: an extraordinary photography archive that spans two decades of Australia's political history. The appeal aims to raise $40,000 to fund the research, conservation, and digitisation of hundreds of Thomson's photographs, alongside press passes and awards chronicling the evolution of Australian politics from the 1970s through to the 1990s. 2025 appeal Museum of Australian Democracy is requesting support to preserve, conserve and research this rare collection telling the political story of Australia, as seen through the lens of one of its most respected photographers, Graeme 'Bluey' Thomson. To learn more or to make a donation, visit Thomson began his career as a 15-year-old cadet and got his major break in 1964 with The Australian. His work, later syndicated internationally, documented major political and social events as well as the evolution of press photography, from the age of darkrooms to the emergence of digital. "There was no photographer with a better pictorial record of Australian political history, from the Robert Menzies era to that of John Howard," chair of the board at Old Parliament House Barrie Cassidy said. Bluey Thomson (left) taking notes with a fellow photographer. Mr Cassidy knew Thomson from his own period working in the building and was impressed by Thomson's innovative approach. As he put it, "Bluey was a trailblazer." Graeme 'Bluey' Thomson was a calm but commanding presence in the Press Gallery, capturing everything from the swearing-in of governments and royal tours to national protests and the subtle day-to-day interactions between politicians and the press. The collection offers a vast range of behind-the-scenes moments. "These images are a treasure trove of political history," MoAD senior curator, Dr Laina Hall said. "One of the things I really love about these photographs is how they capture the relationship between politicians and the media." One striking image captures Prime Minister Bob Hawke on the front steps of Parliament House, framed by bright lights and cameras as he stands at the heart of a bustling press scrum (below). Bob Hawke surrounded by press on the front steps of Parliament House, Canberra. Picture by Graeme Thomson/The Museum of Australian Democracy "There's a real sense of proximity, of the way the media works to bring those moments to the public," Dr Hall said. The project also highlights the conservation challenges ahead. Many prints in the collection have deteriorated over time, some are even stuck together, requiring delicate conservation treatment. Conserving these photographs, along with the original typewritten labels attached to many of them, is another major task the funding will support. A MoAD curator handles photographs from the Bluey Thomson Collection. Photo by The Museum of Australian Democracy "We'll be photographing the prints, cataloguing them into our database, and undertaking conservation work to stabilise and protect them," Dr Hall said. "This collection helps us understand not just what happened in politics, but how it was seen and experienced. "Supporting this appeal is a way to ensure that the legacy remains accessible to all Australians." Support the appeal by visiting
The Guardian
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Sovereign citizens hold event to ‘indict' Australian MPs in former Parliament House
Old Parliament House will review its public booking system after a group of sovereign citizens seeking to 'indict' politicians were able to hold a formal event condemning the Australian government's 'occupation' within the building. On Saturday, the group of at least 50 gathered at the former Parliament House, now known as the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, to 'indict' 266 unspecified officials of the Australian government, members of parliament, judiciary and public officials for 'treason, fraud, democide and other crimes against humanity'. A man, who the group referred to as the 'people's prosecutor', then read out 40 minutes of alleged evidence to support the group's claims before voting to proceed to a 'people's grand jury', video from the event shows. 'The indictment has been created. History has been made. History is in the making. This is a message to the Australian government, the Australian people, the people of Terra Australis, are awake,' one of the organisers said over the cheers and whoops. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Sovereign citizens are a broad ideology that believe governments aren't legitimate and individuals retain 'sovereign' rights to disobey any law. Old Parliament House is no stranger to the sovereign citizens' movement. In late 2021, a group of protesters linked to the sovereign citizen ideology set fire to the building's facade after days of anti-vaccine and anti-authority demonstrations. A spokesperson for Old Parliament House said of the most recent incident that the group were able to book the building's internal courtyard under an acronym through the museum's third party event contractor. Guardian Australia understands the event was booked as 'GJI event', or grand jury indictment event. The group were equipped with seating, a PA system and catering. After staff had identified the event's motives, the spokesperson said they 'immediately increased security arrangements to ensure the event ended peacefully and without incident'. A public stream showed the event lasted for at least one-and-a-half hours with the organisers inviting attenders to stay for afternoon tea in the venue before convening for a barbecue on the parliamentary lawns. 'As a result, Old Parliament House will be reviewing event booking processes with a view to adding an extra layer of oversight,' the spokesperson said. 'The event does not align with the role of Old Parliament House. Our role is to strengthen understanding of Australia's democratic system.' The group claims it will meet next month at an undisclosed location to carry out its grand jury. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Harry Hobbs, a legal expert in Indigenous rights and sovereign citizens, likened the pseudo-legal ideology to a 'salad bar' of ideas where people use 'little bits' and apply to their own unique circumstances. 'It looks a bit like law. It uses legal sources, but … it creates this alternative legal universe,' he said. Keiran Hardy, a criminology expert, said groups like these posed less of a threat after considerable decline since Covid lockdowns, where broad coalitions of political far-right, anti-vax and anti-government groups formed. 'There's obviously no legal basis to this. They can't bring their own legal action,' he said. 'I actually think trying to shut down these meetings will just play into that conspiracy that the government is controlling them. 'I do it think would be better just to sort of let these things play out and blow over, rather than making too much of it as a threat.' In January, the Australian Electoral Commission warned the upcoming federal election faced domestic threats, including mis- and disinformation from 'sovereign citizens, conspiracy theorists and keyboard warriors'. The AEC said its election taskforce, which includes members of the AEC, federal police, and security agencies, will meet at least daily once the election is called.
