Aboriginal rights protest at the opening of the new Parliament House building, May 1988
The queen looks at protesters at the opening of the new parliament house building, Canberra, May 1988.
(Still from the documentary Open House, National Film and Sound Archive.)
Tapes
Please note: These recordings include the voices of people who have died
On 9 May 1988, the Queen opened the new parliament house building in Canberra as part of Australia’s bicentenary celebrations.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their supporters came from around the country to protest for Land Rights, for Sovereignty, and against Black deaths in custody. Thousands of chanting protestors and their banners, flags and balloons meant that it was impossible to ignore the struggles of First Nations people in this country on this day, and throughout the bicentenary year.
These raw, unedited recordings include chants, demo sounds, and short interviews recorded by Tanya the day before the protest, on the rally itself and at the media conference afterwards.