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Behind the Lines

Roll(out) of the dice

Promises and pitfalls of governing in a pandemic

The government's aim to vaccinate the nation faced a perfect storm of unexpected side effects, supply issues and a highly contagious new virus variant. Armchair experts went beyond the double donut as COVID-19 reporting became increasingly detailed.

Amid bad headlines and finger pointing, lockdowns spread across the country while outspoken MPs undermined public health messaging, causing headaches for the government. The numbers 70 and 80 became shorthand for freedom.

Two men in a cool room with Pfizer vaccines. One says, 'The minister wants to start rolling doses out ASAP'. The other responds, 'Does he have any idea how hard it is to stick Liberal logos on each one wearing these mittens?'

The Fumble

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper,

Scott Morrison sits at a 'Spin doctor' booth. He gaslights a member of the public into thinking it's their fault the vaccine rollout was slow. Text reads: 'New taxpayer-funded gaslight station'.

Gaslight Station

David Pope, The Canberra Times,

Gladys Berejiklian stands next to a gold statue of herself with a NSW sash. She has crossed off standard levels from gold down to tin on the statue. She asks Dr Kerry Chant, 'What's next after tin?' Chant replies 'Lead...'

All That Glitters

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney),

Scott Morrison and others fall off bikes. Annastacia Palaszczuk holds a sign that says, 'AstraZeneca vaccine is [death symbol]'. Text reads: 'The vaccine rollout pelaton'.

The Vaccine Rollout

Mark Knight, Herald Sun,

Scott Morrison drives a car on the edge of a cliff saying, 'See, folks - we've turned the corner and we're through the worst of it.' Three Labor premiers wait around corners with items to sabotage his car trip.

Home Stretch

Johannes Leak, The Australian,

A radio jockey says, 'And next on the line we have Delta who thinks the government's approach has been spot on...' On the other end of the line four Delta viruses hold a phone and say 'shh' to each other.

Bad Call

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street,

Jesus says, 'I shall return and deliver salvation to the miserable masses'. Kevin Rudd sits on a rock holding a phone with Pfizer on the other end. He says, 'Get in line buddy!'

Lord and Saviour

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A despondent Scott Morrison tunes a guitar with the strings labelled as each of the states and territories. Text reads, 'Slow Hand Scott and The Delta Blues'.

The Delta Blues

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

8 panels outlining someone's day during COVID lockdown. They struggle to thrive.

Phonecall with Aunty

Meg O'Shea, Self-published,

George Christensen holds the COVID virus. He says, 'This is COVID... don't be afraid... don't be scared... it won't hurt you'. Text reads: 'Just another day in parliament'.

Don't Be Afraid

Harry Bruce, Townsville Bulletin,

Scott Morrison says to Josh Frydenberg from inside a small house, 'Just look at them, Josh... locked down in their cave'. They are on the east side of Australia while Western Australia has people running around freely outside.

Cave Dwellers

Matt Golding, Nine Papers,

Public pool with a net bisecting it. One side is people, the other is sharks. A man holding the lever to the net says, 'When 70% have shark-proof suits on, I'm opening up the entire pool'.

Opening Up the Pool

Mark David, Independent Australia,

An asteroid shaped as COVID in black, yellow and red is crashing into the town of Wilcannia.

Impact

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney),

Doctors and nurses are combined together in the form of a pretzel. One gloved hand holds a paper titled: 'Doherty Modelling'.

Pretzel

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

The states and territories are in the shape of people's faces. They are in separate windows in a house called, 'Oz'. It is nighttime. The moon is in the shape of the COVID virus.

Full House

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian,

A crowd dispersal van labelled 'Vaccine' drives through a puddle-filled street littered with hi-vis construction clothing. Men in the van say, 'Well that did the trick'.

Homeopathic Remedy

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper,

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