During the early 1970s the Coalition faced a leadership crisis and struggled to find direction. When William McMahon lost the 1972 election to Gough Whitlam, the Coalition parties found themselves in Opposition for the first time in 23 years. Billy Snedden took over as leader in 1973 and was replaced by Malcolm Fraser in March 1975. Following Labor’s dismissal later that year, the Coalition won Government by a record majority in the subsequent election. From 1971 onwards, Pickering’s cartoons document this tumultuous period for the Coalition.

By the time Pryor began cartooning in 1977, the Coalition, then led by Malcolm Fraser, was safely back in Government. Yet Pryor’s work reminds us that it was not all smooth sailing! Pryor also introduces us to a new player — John Howard. Appointed Treasurer in 1977, Howard also held the position of Opposition Leader between 1985 and 1989, and 1995-1996. His aspiration to be Prime Minister was a regular theme of Pryor’s cartoons throughout the 1980s, but it was not until 1996 that the dream became reality.