Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

Bad omens

Impending doom and signs impossible to ignore

One of 2021's biggest reports forecast a bleak climate future.

For decades, cartoonists have been reflecting on the science, debates and political posturing that mark global warming. As experts' warnings become more dire and more urgent, cartoonists find new ways to illustrate this familiar territory.

A cartoon about the floods captures the mood of the nation, while high-vis vests, VR goggles and a buggy whip warehouse provoke a chuckle.

A movie poster. Houses and cars are swept away in a flood. Text reads: 'From the makers of 2020: 2021. Just when you thought it was safe to go outside... Now streaming'.

Floods

Johannes Leak, The Australian, 22 March 2021

Barnaby Joyce says to a classroom of kids, 'Well, I for one won't be taking any action on climate change until I know the cost and who is paying for it'.

Who Pays?

Cathy Wilcox, The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 August 2021

A 50 degree Celsius thermometer holds up a newspaper with the headline, 'Air travel, consumerism back on track', to an empty syringe next to an empty COVID-19 vaccine.

Save Us From Ourselves (with the Thermometer and Syringe)

Megan Herbert, Self-published, 20 August 2021

Four panels. A man walks, then sticks his head in the sand. The next panel shows him an hourglass called 'Climate'.

Headspace

Philip Somerville, Line of Thought, 10 August 2021

Multiple panels with 'Senator Ian the Climate Denialist Potato' disputing young people's issues in today's society, such as climate change.

Angry Climate Kids

First Dog on the Moon, The Guardian Australia, 3 September 2021

Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce at a press conference. A banner in the first panel says 'Net-zero commitment'. The second panel, Joyce has covered the 'net' with his hat.

Australia's Climate Action

Matt Golding, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 October 2021

A elderly farmer with a white beard directs Scott Morrison, who is in a car, past the gas-fired power station, and into the past.

Heritage Tours

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper, 20 May 2021

Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison in old timey clothes stand on the back of utes, trying to sell bottles of their concoctions to combat climate change.

Snake Oil Sales

Johannes Leak, The Australian, 22 April 2021

Angus Taylor carries a tray of 'snake oil' to the Glasgow Climate Conference 2021. A person out the front says, 'Ah... this must be the Australian delegation'.

Angus and Climate Change

Alan Moir, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 March 2021

A distressed Sussan Ley stands knee-deep in water holding flippers branded 'Barrier Reef'. Behind her, Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and George Christensen are on jet skis.

Beautiful One Day ... Blindsided the Next

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 23 June 2021

Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce are on 'Scomo's Reef-Coloured Glasses Tours' boat. Divers underneath point to dead coral. Big boats in the background emit black smoke.

Reef-Coloured Glasses

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper, 26 June 2021

A politician stands next to a large industrial facility in a hi-vis vest, the vest reflects the sun's rays back into space. Text reads: 'How carbon capture and storage works'.

Burying Disbelief

Jon Kudelka, The Australian, 24 April 2021

A poster titled 'Politician Capture and Storage' shows Parliament House. In front, politicians are captured by a machine with a hand. Text reads 'Save us'.

The Science of PCS (Politician Capture & Storage)

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon, 4 November 2021

Madeleine King drives a large industrial vehicle with coal in the back. She jumps over 'Green left' cars. Anthony Albanese looks on asking, 'But can she jump wind turbines?'

Renewed Energy

John Spooner, The Australian, 19 April 2021