National Film and Sound Archive's 2026 Sounds of Australia collection additions and cultural significance
Consensus Summary
The National Film and Sound Archive’s 2026 Sounds of Australia collection highlights nine culturally significant audio recordings, including Jack Karlson’s 1991 arrest speech outside a Brisbane Chinese restaurant, which became a viral meme and iconic moment. The collection, selected by a panel of experts from public nominations, also features Joe Dolce’s 1981 hit 'Shaddap Your Face,' the 2007 Native Title Determination broadcast at Noonkanbah Station, and Missy Higgins’ 2004 song 'Scar,' which topped the ARIA charts. Other additions include the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound, the Reading Writing Hotline jingle, and Marcia Hines’ 1977 soul-pop anthem 'You.' The NFSA emphasizes the collection’s role in preserving diverse Australian sounds, from music and speeches to everyday sounds like the pedestrian crossing button, which was even sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 hit. Both sources agree on key facts like Karlson’s speech, the inclusion of 'Shaddap Your Face,' and the significance of 'Scar,' but differ slightly on details such as the exact number of recordings and the ranking of 'Scar' in Triple J’s Hottest 100. The collection reflects Australia’s rich cultural tapestry, blending historical broadcasts, activist speeches, and beloved music to capture the nation’s identity through sound.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jack Karlson’s 1991 arrest speech ('Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest! ... What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?') was added to the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection in 2026.
- The Sounds of Australia collection includes nine audio recordings selected by a panel of NFSA sound experts from public nominations, with items over 10 years old.
- The collection was launched in 2007 and now contains over 200 recordings, with the 2026 edition expanding it further.
- Joe Dolce’s 1981 song 'Shaddap Your Face' was added to the Sounds of Australia collection, peaking at number one in Australia for eight weeks and in 11 other countries.
- The Federal Court’s 2007 radio broadcast of the Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station was included in the collection.
- The PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound was added to the collection, designed by Louis Challis and sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 song 'Bad Guy'.
- Missy Higgins’ 2004 hit 'Scar' was added to the collection, debuting at number one on the ARIA Singles Charts and staying in the top 40 for 23 weeks.
- The Reading Writing Hotline’s 2001 jingle (1300-6555-06) was included, addressing literacy challenges among English-speaking adults in Australia.
- Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year acceptance speech was added to the collection, dedicated to her murdered son Luke.
- Marcia Hines’ 1977 song 'You' was included, peaking at number two on the Australian charts and nominated for its cultural impact.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter stated the collection is designed to be easily searched and reflects life in Australia through sounds with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia online register is described as 'a fantastic rabbit hole you can go down,' with over 200 recordings now available on a new website.
- The 2026 collection includes 'Democracy Manifest / Succulent Chinese Meal' alongside 'Shaddap Your Face,' 'Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station,' Rosie Batty’s speech, and the Reading Writing Hotline jingle.
- The NFSA said Karlson’s speech was uploaded to YouTube in 2009 and became globally quoted, remixed, and shared.
- The NFSA highlighted that 'You' by Marcia Hines was transformed into a soul-pop anthem of love and longing by her vocal performance.
- The NFSA mentioned Joe Dolce’s long career as a poet, performer, and activist, noting 'Shaddap Your Face' as a comedy song reflecting multicultural voices in 1980s Australia.
- The NFSA described 'Tabaran' (1990) as a key example of regional collaboration between Australian and Papua New Guinean musicians, nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1992.
- The NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter emphasized the variety of recorded sound in Australia’s history, including beloved songs, iconic speeches, and historically significant broadcasts.
- The Guardian noted Karlson was a small-time criminal known to work under various aliases, achieving global internet stardom after the 1991 arrest footage went viral on YouTube.
- The Guardian mentioned Karlson’s one-minute exchange included the line 'Get your hand off my penis!' before his famous speech.
- The Guardian highlighted that Marcia Hines’ 'You' is the oldest addition to the 2026 list, while Rosie Batty’s speech is one of the few non-music audio additions.
- The Guardian reported that the NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader stated the collection aims to reflect the diversity of Australian experiences and perspectives.
- The Guardian mentioned that over 300,000 audio items are housed in the NFSA, with one-third classified as at-risk and preserved through digitization.
- The Guardian noted Missy Higgins’ 'Scar' was recently voted fourth-best in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian songs in 2025.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the NFSA assistant curator is Hannah de Feyter, while the Guardian does not mention her name and instead highlights Meagan Loader as the NFSA chief curator.
- The Guardian mentions Karlson’s arrest footage was uploaded to YouTube in 2009, but ABC does not specify the exact year of the YouTube upload, only that it was uploaded in 2009.
- ABC describes the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection as having over 200 recordings after the 2026 edition, while the Guardian states there are over 300,000 audio items in total at the NFSA, with only a fraction in the Sounds of Australia collection.
- The Guardian notes that 'Scar' was recently voted fourth-best in Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2025, but ABC does not mention this ranking or the year of the vote.
Source Articles
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