Home / Arts and Entertainment / Democracy Manifest Added to National Archives
Democracy Manifest Added to National Archives
30 Mar
Summary
- Jack Karlson's 'democracy manifest' speech is now archived.
- The recording is part of Australia's Sounds of Australia collection.
- Other additions include music hits and public service signals.
Thirty-five years ago, Jack Karlson's impassioned "democracy manifest" speech outside a Queensland restaurant became an unexpected global phenomenon. Now, this moment, captured in a 1991 news report, has been permanently preserved in Australia's National Film and Sound Archive as part of the Sounds of Australia collection.
This prestigious collection honors sound recordings of historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance. Karlson's declaration, which garnered millions of views online, is among nine new additions this year. Other notable inclusions feature Marcia Hines' 1977 track "You," Rosie Batty's 2015 Australian of the Year speech, and the PB/5 Pedestrian Crossing Signal.
Established nearly two decades ago, the Sounds of Australia collection receives public nominations for recordings over a decade old. A panel of NFSA sound experts then curates the final selections. This year's list also includes Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" and Missy Higgins' 2004 hit "Scar," celebrating Australia's diverse sonic heritage.
