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Parliament Dropout

A mother sits in front of a TV. Her child walks in the door. She says, 'What are you doing home? Scott Morrison said you should be at school'. Child responds, 'We were gonna study democracy but some goose suspended parliament'.

As the national lockdown began to ease, the government was keen for schools to reopen, deeming children to be at low risk. The strong social distancing practices recommended by health authorities meant that some democratic institutions, such as state and federal governments and the courts, had been forced to go into recess or curtail their activities. Concerns were raised about how this might limit public scrutiny during an unprecedented national crisis.

The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges Australia's First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We respectfully acknowledge the role that First Nations people continue to play in shaping Australia's democracy. We also acknowledge the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the region in which MoAD is located.

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