The 1970s: a decade of protest

Photographs by Roger Scott

The 1970s were one of the most volatile periods in Australia's political history, with mass demonstrations and grassroots actions taking place to protest the Vietnam War and the South African Springboks tour, and to support Aboriginal rights. The Builders Labourers Federation teamed with resident action groups to create an unprecedented situation, applying green bans to prevent over-development of parts of Sydney.

Roger Scott is one of Australia's most outstanding documentary photographers. He was roused by the political ferment of the 1970s to use his camera to gain a political voice. Rather than contriving shots to please newspaper editors, Scott chose to hit the streets and get among the action without manipulating or directing his subjects.

Also screening daily: When The World Said No To War, a series of photographs from around the world taken in February 2003, when an estimated 35 million people took to the streets to protest the impending war in Iraq.