Jack Karlson's iconic 1991 outburst, 'Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest! … What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?', has been added to Australia's National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) Sounds of Australia collection. The recording, originally from a 7NEWS report of Karlson's arrest outside a Queensland Chinese restaurant, joins nine other audio pieces selected this year for their historical, cultural or aesthetic significance.
Karlson, a small-time criminal known for using aliases, achieved global internet fame when the video went viral on YouTube. The one-minute exchange also features him shouting 'Get your hand off my penis!' before complimenting an officer on his headlock technique. The NFSA's chief curator, Meagan Loader, said the collection aims to reflect Australia's diverse experiences and perspectives.
Other additions to the 2026 list include Marcia Hines' 1977 dance track 'You', Missy Higgins' 2004 hit 'Scar', and Rosie Batty's 2015 Australian of the Year acceptance speech, dedicated to her murdered son. The ABC Kimberley 2007 native title determination broadcast, the PB/5 pedestrian crossing signal (sampled in Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy'), Joe Dolce's 'Shaddap You Face', the Tabaran music video by Not Drowning, Waving and the Musicians of Rabaul featuring Telek, and the Reading Writing hotline jingle complete the list.
Established nearly two decades ago, the Sounds of Australia collection relies on public nominations for recordings more than a decade old, with a panel of NFSA sound experts voting on selections. Over 300,000 audio items are now housed in the archive, with one-third classified as at-risk and preserved through digitisation.
