Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

Mars retrograde

Astrological forecasts and the god of war

From time to time, Mars appears to move backwards across the sky. Astronomers know this to be an optical illusion. Astrologers however see it as symbolic, linked to war, action and self-assertion. The astrologer's take on Mars is the thread linking these cartoons together.

Democracy, international relations and our defence force were in the spotlight. Tragedies here and overseas reminded us that 2021 marked two grim anniversaries: the 20th anniversary of 9/11, which triggered Australia's longest war, and the 30th anniversary of the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Text next to legs reads: 'BOYS! The world is on fire! Reefs are dying! Polar caps are melting! GET INSIDE!' Below, Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and Scott Morrison play with toy submarines, text reads: 'But... billion dollar nuclear submarines!'

Boys and Their Dumb Toys

Nordacious, Self-published, 17 September 221

An Indigenous man hangs in front of a brick wall. There is a face with tears as the background on the wall.

Deaths in Custody: When Will It Stop?

Danny Eastwood, Koori Mail, 16 December 1992

A stone Abraham Lincoln cries on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial. Two Trump supporters ask, 'Hey dude... was it the teargas?' Fumes pour out of the Capitol Building in the background.

The View from the Lincoln Memorial

Greg 'Smithy' Smith, The Sunday Times (Perth), 8 January 2021

A calendar of 2021. 26 January is marked as 'National day of mourning'. Every other day of the year is marked as 'Not national day of mourning'.

Change the Date

Megan Herbert, Self-published, 26 January 2021

Two inmates lie dead on the Aboriginal flag. Text reads: 'Black Lives Matter. Black deaths in custody since 1991' with '450+' inside the centre yellow circle on the flag.

Black Lives Matter: Black Deaths in Custody Since 1991

Danny Eastwood, Koori Mail, 7 April 2021

A statue labelled 'Veteran Suicides' faces the sunrise. Scott Morrison kneels before it with a wreath labelled 'Royal Commission'. The cartoon is in a grey wash.

At the Going down of the Sun

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 13 April 2021

An ADF general is in a trench up to his waist in mud. Two missiles labelled 'War crimes' and 'Veteran's suicide' are converging on him.

Incoming

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 26 April 2021

Mike Pezzullo, Peter Dutton and Andrew Hastie play music in a 'War' band. Below, Marise Payne knits, there is a 'Diplomacy, sweet diplomacy' sign on her wall.

The Drums of War

David Pope, The Canberra Times, 29 April 2021

Marise Payne stands over Scott Morrison pointing to a map of Australia called, 'The Chinese port of Darwin'. Payne says, 'And this is a disturbing aerial photo of the CCP's latest island building venture'.

Port of Darwin

John Spooner, The Australian, 5 May 2021

Two people sit on a couch watching TV. The business news anchor says, 'Insults and veiled threats have overtaken coal and steel as Australia's main trade with China'.

Trade with China

Andrew Weldon, The Big Issue, 16 May 2021

Scott Morrison sits on a beach chair talking on a phone in front of the Christmas Island Detention Centre. He says, 'Look, I'd love to be able to help those little girls but my empathy training doesn't go that far...'

The Heart of the Matter

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street, 8 June 2021

In Afghanistan a soldier says to an Afghani interpreter, 'Now remember mate, when we apply for your Australian visa, you're not my interpreter... you're my au pair.' Peter Dutton wearing a blue suit glumly walks away.

You're My Au-Pair

Mark Knight, Herald Sun, 17 August 2021

The Twin Towers have '2' and '0' written on them. The middle of both towers are on fire. Smoke is billowing upwards.

Twenty Years

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 11 September 2021

Jacinta Arden is dressed as a hippie in front of the 'Invite only AUKUS Grown-Ups Club'. She is holding a 'No nukes' sign saying, 'and stay out!!'

Grown-Ups Club

Johannes Leak, The Australian, 17 September 2021

A submarine is celebrated with flags and a parade. A man run towards a person about to break a bottle on the sub saying, 'Stoooop! That's French champagne!' Text reads 'Moments before "the incident"'.

Sparkling Submersibles

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper, 18 September 2021