National Film and Sound Archive’s 2026 Sounds of Australia collection highlights
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, now a global meme, was added alongside other notable entries like Joe Dolce’s 1981 hit 'Shaddap Your Face,' the 2007 Noonkanbah Station Native Title Determination broadcast, and Missy Higgins’ 2004 song 'Scar.' Both sources agree on key facts such as the inclusion of Marcia Hines’ 1977 song 'You' and the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound, which was sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 track 'Bad Guy.' The collection, launched in 2007, reflects Australia’s diverse cultural and historical sounds, with public nominations and expert panels guiding selections. While ABC and the Guardian align on core details, discrepancies include the exact number of recordings in the collection and the specific roles of NFSA curators. The archive aims to preserve and showcase sounds that resonate with Australians, from beloved music to pivotal historical broadcasts.
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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, including Jack Karlson’s speech, Joe Dolce’s 1981 song 'Shaddap Your Face,' the 2007 Noonkanbah Station Native Title Determination broadcast, Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year speech, and the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound.
- The collection was launched in 2007 and is designed to reflect life in Australia through culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant sounds, with recordings over 10 years old eligible for nomination.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection now contains over 200 recordings after this year’s additions, with the full archive dating back to 1896.
- Marcia Hines’ 1977 song 'You' was added to the 2026 Sounds of Australia collection, peaking at number 2 on the Australian charts and staying for 25 weeks.
- The PB/5 pedestrian crossing button sound was sampled in Billie Eilish’s 2019 song 'Bad Guy' and has been adopted internationally in countries like New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, and parts of the USA.
- The Reading Writing Hotline’s 2001 jingle was included in the collection, addressing literacy challenges among adult Australians.
- Missy Higgins’ 2004 hit 'Scar' was added to the collection, reaching number one on the ARIA Singles Charts and staying in the top 40 for 23 weeks.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The NFSA assistant curator Hannah de Feyter emphasized the variety of recorded sound in Australia’s history, highlighting beloved songs, iconic speeches, and historically significant broadcasts.
- The collection is described as a 'fantastic rabbit hole' with over 200 recordings now available on a newly redesigned website.
- Joe Dolce’s career is described as 'very serious,' noting his roles as a poet, performer, and activist beyond his comedy song 'Shaddap Your Face.'
- The 1990 song 'Tabaran' by Not Drowning, Waving and George Telek (from Rabaul, Papua New Guinea) was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release in 1992.
- Marcia Hines stated the song 'You' was 'transformed by her radiant vocal performance into a soul-pop anthem of love and longing,' and she felt 'lovely' about its inclusion.
- Missy Higgins described 'Scar' as a song about trusting one’s instincts and believing in oneself, written as a message to her future self.
- The NFSA’s Sounds of Australia collection includes the Federal Court’s 2007 Native Title Determination at Noonkanbah Station as a historically significant broadcast.
- Jack Karlson was described as a 'small-time criminal' known to work under various aliases, achieving global internet stardom after the 1991 arrest footage went viral on YouTube.
- The NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader stated the collection aims to reflect the 'wild diversity' of Australian perspectives and identities, with public nominations driving the selection process.
- More than 300,000 audio items are housed in the NFSA, with one-third classified as at-risk and preserved through digitization.
- Missy Higgins’ 'Scar' was recently voted fourth-best in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of Australian songs in 2025.
- The Guardian notes the collection includes 'a pedestrian crossing signal' and 'Missy Higgins’ 2004 hit Scar' as part of the 2026 additions, alongside other items.
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.
- ABC describes the Sounds of Australia collection as having over 200 recordings after this year’s edition, while the Guardian states there are over 300,000 audio items in total at the NFSA, with one-third at-risk.
- 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 emphasizes the inclusion of the 2001 Reading Writing Hotline jingle as a community service announcement paired with a tune, while the Guardian does not provide additional context beyond its inclusion in the collection.
Source Articles
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