Jack Karlson’s famous outburst during a 1991 arrest outside a Chinese restaurant in Queensland has been added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia collection. The recording, in which Karlson declares “Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!” and asks “What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?”, is one of nine audio pieces selected this year for their historical, cultural and aesthetic significance.
The Sounds of Australia collection, established almost two decades ago by the NFSA, includes sound recordings nominated by the public that are more than a decade old. A panel of NFSA sound experts votes on the additions each year. Karlson’s arrest, captured by 7NEWS, went viral on YouTube and became a global internet meme.
Other additions to the 2026 list include Marcia Hines’ 1977 dance track “You” as the oldest entry, and domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty’s 2015 Australian of the Year acceptance speech as the newest. Batty’s speech, like Karlson’s, is one of the few non-music audio additions to the collection.
The ABC Kimberley 2007 radio broadcast of a native title determination at Noonkanbah Station, the PB/5 pedestrian crossing signal sampled in Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”, Joe Dolce’s 1981 comedy song “Shaddap You Face”, the 1990 Tabaran music video by Not Drowning, Waving and the Musicians of Rabaul featuring Telek, the 2001 Reading Writing hotline jingle, and Missy Higgins’ 2004 hit “Scar” complete the list.
NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader said the collection aims to reflect the diversity of Australian experiences. More than 300,000 audio items are now housed in the archive, with one-third classified as at-risk and preserved through digitisation.
