Summary

Note: This object includes white superiority messaging. Such attitudes and beliefs are not condoned by Museums Victoria which considers them to be racist. Historical distance and context do not excuse or erase this fact.

Badge of the Australian Labor Party, circa 1920s. The badge reflects Labor's social democratic policies, but the white map of Australia also suggests that Labor historically opposed immigration and supported the White Australia Policy, although it now supports multiculturalism.

The Australian Labor Party's logo still includes a white Southern Cross constellation on a light blue background. The frequent use of a white map of Australia as the iconography for badges, medals, published materials and more, reinforced the desire of governments and organisations to create a trade-protected, white, predominantly British population. It also erases any presence of First Peoples and their rights, heritage, culture and sovereignty.


Part of collection of badges collected by Jim Cooper, a veteran member of the Building Workers' Industrial Union (NSW Branch) and Union and political activist before his death in 1984. His daughter passed the badges on to Alf Zeeno, ex-secretary of the BWIU, with a request that they be donated to the museum.

Physical Description

Metal badge in the shape of a map of Australia with a scroll beneath. The coloured parts of the badge are enamelled. In the centre of the white map of Australia is a light blue flag with a gold-coloured Southern Cross constellation. Beneath the map is a dark blue scroll with gold-coloured text.

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