Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

The empress

Tarot, toxic workplaces and time for change

Distressing allegations and rolling scandals swirled around Parliament House.

Across the country, women spoke up, empowering others to come forward. Thousands marched, calling for an end to sexism, misogyny, corruption and damaging workplace cultures.

Muted reactions and a campaign misfire caught the cartoonists' attention.

Showing just how slow progress can be, an elite club, whose members include former prime ministers and governors-general, continued its ban on women as members.

Parliament House is surrounded by a bubble in the shape of the gender symbol for men, a circle with an arrow pointing diagonally up to the right.

The Canberra Bubble

Peter Broelman, The Canberra Times, 1 March 2021

A family is on the beach. Daughter says, 'When I grow up I want to be treated with respect and recognition for my brains and hard work'. The parents say, 'I remember when she wanted to grow up to be prime minister'.

Dream Jobs

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street, 9 March 2021

Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg walk past Christian Porter's office. Frydenberg says, 'So... it's not just the economy... stupid.'

'It's not Just the Economy ... Stupid'

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 4 March 2021

As Scott Morrison sweeps women's names under a rug he says, 'Ugh, I'm hopeless at this, it must be because it's women's work'. A 'Media' vacuum is a vacuuming up the names under the rug, including 'Holgate' and 'Higgins'.

Little Help

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail, 15 April 2021

A milkshake and a taco are in bed. The milkshake says, 'I'm so confused right now'. A cigarette is in an ashtray next to the bed.

Dazed and Confused

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon, 21 April 2021

Scott Morrison is on the phone to his wife, Jenny. He asks her, 'What to do, Jenny? If only there was some kind of sign'. Women protesters are outside his window with signs.

Window of Opportunity

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street, 16 March 2021

Scott Morrison sits in front of an 'Abuse Survivor Stories' garden. Grace Tame is behind him holding a water can saying, 'Perhaps start by holding a watering can then, and work your way up to a hose...'

Grace

David Pope, The Canberra Times, 4 March 2021

Four politicians with 'Minister for...' titles relating to staying quiet or acting without consequences. Text reads, 'The PM has made some new appointments, to show just how serious he is about changing the culture for women in Australia. To name a few...'

Serious About Women

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 March 2021

Scott Morrison sits behind a desk asking, 'How's it all going?' Behind him is a trophy with the gender symbol for women, the inscription reads, 'I stopped these'. An advisor briefs a litany of bureaucratic delays into an inquiry.

Inquiring Minds

Peter Broelman, The Canberra Times, 26 March 2021

An army of women fight a monster called 'Attitude'. One of them comments, 'It keeps changing shape – but we're winning!'

Untitled

Gaynor Alma Cardew, Women and Work, Vol. 12, no. 1.

Three men sit in a lounge. One says to a woman server, 'Bring us another round, sweetheart'. Text reads: 'Members of the Australian Club vote to allow women to come to the table in the only way that does not offend their core values.'

The Australian Club

Megan Herbert, Self-published, 18 June 2021

Christine Holgate is dressed in white carrying a mail satchel. Scott Morrison is a postage box, with boxes labelled 'Bullying, crony board appointments, privitisation plan, unlawful dismissal'.

Returned to Sender

David Pope, The Canberra Times, 14 April 2021

Protestors walk away from the front of Parliament House. One comments, 'Well... the prime minister refused to come out and listen to us... but on the plus side at least we weren't "met by bullets"'.

A Triumph for Democracy

Harry Bruce, Townsville Bulletin, 15 March 2021