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. The speech, which became a global meme, was added alongside other notable sounds like the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button, Missy Higgins’s 2004 hit 'Scar,' and Joe Dolce’s 1981 comedy song 'Shaddap Your Face.' The collection, launched in 2007, is curated through public nominations and expert selection, focusing on recordings over a decade old that reflect Australia’s diverse history. Both ABC and the Guardian emphasize the collection’s role in preserving moments like Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech and the 2007 Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station, showcasing a mix of music, speeches, and everyday sounds. The NFSA’s online archive now contains over 200 recordings, offering a searchable resource for exploring Australia’s past through sound. While both sources agree on key additions, the Guardian provides additional context on Karlson’s viral moment and the scale of the NFSA’s collection, while ABC offers more detail on the cultural and historical significance of each recording.
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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 Federal Court’s 2007 Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station was included in the 2026 Sounds of Australia collection.
- The Reading Writing Hotline’s 2001 jingle was added to the Sounds of Australia collection in 2026.
- Marcia Hines’s 1977 song 'You' was included in the 2026 Sounds of Australia collection, peaking at number 2 on the Australian charts.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection is searchable online and includes recordings from 1896 to 2015.
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’s 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’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the jingle from the Reading Writing Hotline, which was launched in the 1990s and addresses literacy challenges among adult Australians.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech, which was dedicated to her son Luke, who was murdered by his father.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the Federal Court’s Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station, broadcast on ABC Kimberley in 2007.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound, designed by Louis Challis, which has been adopted internationally and sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 song 'Bad Guy'.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1981 song 'Shaddap Your Face' by Joe Dolce, which was number one in Australia for eight weeks and in 11 other countries.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 2004 hit 'Scar' by Missy Higgins, which was written about trusting one’s instincts and career decisions.
- 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.
- The Guardian notes that Karlson achieved global internet stardom when a 1991 7NEWS report of his arrest went viral on YouTube, including his line 'Get your hand off my penis!'
- The Guardian highlights that Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech is one of the few non-music audio additions to the 2026 collection.
- The Guardian mentions that the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1990 music video 'Tabaran' by Not Drowning, Waving and the musicians of Rabaul featuring Telek.
- The Guardian states that the NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader emphasized the diversity of perspectives and identities reflected in the collection, with over 300,000 audio items now housed in the archive.
- The Guardian notes that the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the PB/5 Pedestrian Crossing Signal, which was sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 dance-pop track 'Bad Guy'.
- The Guardian mentions that the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 2001 Reading Writing hotline jingle, which was developed to address literacy challenges among adult Australians.
- The Guardian states that the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 2004 hit 'Scar' by Missy Higgins, which was recently voted fourth-best in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian songs in 2025.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC mentions the NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter, while the Guardian refers to the NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader as the primary spokesperson for the collection.
- The Guardian states that Missy Higgins’s 'Scar' was recently voted fourth-best in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian songs in 2025, but ABC does not mention this detail.
- The Guardian notes that Karlson’s viral moment included the line 'Get your hand off my penis!', which is not mentioned in ABC’s article.
- The Guardian highlights that the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the 1990 music video 'Tabaran' by Not Drowning, Waving and the musicians of Rabaul featuring Telek, but ABC refers to it as a song without specifying the video.
- The Guardian states that over 300,000 audio items are now housed in the National Film and Sound Archive, with one-third of the collection classified as at-risk, which is not mentioned in ABC’s article.
Source Articles
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