National Film and Sound Archive’s 2026 Sounds of Australia collection additions
Consensus Summary
The National Film and Sound Archive’s 2026 Sounds of Australia collection highlights nine culturally significant audio recordings, including Jack Karlson’s iconic 1991 arrest speech outside a Brisbane Chinese restaurant. Karlson’s defiant lines, 'Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest! What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?' became a viral meme and are now preserved alongside other pivotal moments like the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound, which was sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 hit 'Bad Guy.' The collection also features Missy Higgins’s 2004 ARIA-winning single 'Scar,' Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech, and the 2001 Reading Writing Hotline jingle, reflecting Australia’s diverse history through music, activism, and everyday sounds. Both sources agree on key inclusions like Karlson’s speech, the PB/5 sound, and the Reading Writing Hotline jingle, but differ slightly on details such as the specific number of additions or additional context about certain artists and their careers. The NFSA’s mission to preserve and celebrate Australia’s auditory heritage is underscored by the inclusion of recordings spanning decades, from Marcia Hines’s 1977 chart-topping 'You' to the 2007 Native Title Determination broadcast at Noonkanbah Station.
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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 NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes nine audio recordings added in 2026, including Jack Karlson’s speech, the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound, and Missy Higgins’s 2004 hit 'Scar'.
- The collection was launched in 2007 and is designed to reflect life in Australia through culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant sounds.
- Public nominations are considered by a panel of NFSA sound experts, who select recordings over 10 years old for inclusion.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection now contains over 200 recordings after the 2026 edition.
- Joe Dolce’s 1981 song 'Shaddap Your Face' was added to the Sounds of Australia collection in 2026.
- The 2001 Reading Writing Hotline jingle was included in the 2026 Sounds of Australia collection.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 2007 federal court’s Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station broadcast.
- The collection features Marcia Hines’s 1977 song 'You', which peaked at number 2 on the Australian charts.
- The PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound was sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 song 'Bad Guy'.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter stated that the 2026 additions highlight the variety of recorded sound in Australia’s history, including beloved songs, iconic speeches, and historically significant broadcasts.
- 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 NFSA said Jack Karlson’s speech was 'uploaded to YouTube in 2009, quoted, remixed, and shared globally,' cementing its cultural significance.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1990 song 'Tabaran' by Not Drowning, Waving and George Telek, which was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1992.
- The NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter mentioned that 'Shaddap Your Face' by Joe Dolce is a comedy song but also highlighted Dolce’s career as a poet, performer, and activist.
- The NFSA said the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button was designed by acoustic engineer Louis Challis.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1981 song 'Shaddap Your Face,' which was number one in Australia for eight weeks and number one in 11 other countries.
- The NFSA said the Reading Writing Hotline jingle was developed in 2001 to support adult Australians with literacy challenges, with over a million affected.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1977 song 'You' by Marcia Hines, which was transformed into a soul-pop anthem of love and longing by her vocal performance.
- Marcia Hines said the song’s inclusion felt 'lovely' and that she tried to 'bring a bit of love' to it.
- Missy Higgins said 'Scar' was written about trusting one’s instincts and believing in oneself, and it resonates with people throughout the years.
- The Guardian notes that Jack Karlson was a small-time criminal known to work under various aliases.
- The Guardian mentions that Karlson’s 1991 arrest speech was part of a 7NEWS report that went viral on YouTube, including the line 'Get your hand off my penis!'
- The Guardian states that the NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader said the collection reflects 'all Australians' diverse reference points and identities.
- The Guardian notes that more than 300,000 audio items are housed in the NFSA, with one-third classified as at-risk and preserved through digitisation.
- The Guardian mentions that Missy Higgins’s 'Scar' was recently voted fourth-best in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian songs in 2025.
- The Guardian highlights that Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech is dedicated to her son Luke, who was murdered by his father.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the NFSA assistant curator is Hannah de Feyter, while Guardian does not mention her name and instead highlights Meagan Loader as the NFSA chief curator.
- ABC mentions the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes nine pieces of audio added in 2026, but Guardian does not specify the exact number of additions for 2026.
- ABC states the collection includes the 1990 song 'Tabaran' by Not Drowning, Waving and George Telek, but Guardian does not mention this song specifically.
- ABC provides more detailed descriptions of the NFSA’s selection criteria, including the requirement that recordings be more than 10 years old, while Guardian does not specify this exact timeframe.
- ABC mentions the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1981 song 'Shaddap Your Face' as a comedy song but also highlights Dolce’s career as a poet, performer, and activist, while Guardian does not elaborate on Dolce’s career beyond the song’s popularity.
Source Articles
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