Article: PS News, Tuesday May 12th, 2009

House goes MoAD over museum of democracy

The new Museum of Australian Democracy has been officially opened in Canberra at the Old Parliament House.

   Billed as the first and only museum in Australia dedicated to telling the story of Australia’s democracy the MoAD was opened by the only Prime Minister to serve in both the old House and the new, Bob Hawke.

   Mr Hawke was joined for the ceremony by the Chairman of the MoAD Advisory Council, William McInnes and Special Minister of State, Senator John Faulkner. 

   According to organisers, a network of dynamic exhibitions in the new Museum will connect Australians with more than 2000 years of history and heritage.

   It will trace democracy from its earliest origins.

   Among the attractions at the museum are the writing set and inkstand of founding US President George Washington, the first edition of Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man which was published in 1791 to support the French Revolution, and a mosaic of film footage showing how Australians see democracy playing a role in their life.

Another attraction is the Cabinet-in-Confidence display which offers an insight into some of the dilemmas to have faced Australian Cabinets, such as attempts to ban the Communist Party and the 1976 refugee crisis. 

   Director of the Museum, Jenny Anderson said it had been designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.

   “It will present a balanced view on our democracy,” Ms Anderson said.

   “People will be able to decide what we have done well, what we could have done better and the challenges that lie ahead of us as a democratic society.” 

   She said the museum would be constantly evolving to remain fresh and new.

   Mr McInnes described it as more of an adventure than a ‘finger-wagging’ exercise in democracy.

   “It will be a place where Australians can come and renew their knowledge of our history and be inspired and indeed challenged,” he said.

   “There is a need for everybody, whatever age, whatever part of life they are from, to re-acquaint themselves with the history of Australia’s democracy to understand where we have come from and where we might be headed.”

   More information on the new Museum of Australian Democracy is available from the Old Parliament House websitewww.oph.gov.au

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