Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

Tilting towards spring

As Spaceship Earth pursues its orbit around the sun, the tilt of its axis gives us two equinoxes: one day each in spring and autumn in which the hours of light and darkness are equal.

The spring equinox is the turning point, after which the darkness begins to recede in favour of light.

For their part, cartoonists help to drag difficult or complex issues into the daylight as they use their platforms to skewer politicians of all persuasions and point out hypocrisy. Sometimes they also use them to highlight injustice. Many emerging cartoonists are focusing on First Nations and LGBTQIA+ rights and creating powerful political artworks outside the sphere of traditional print media.

Aboriginal flag, but the centre yellow circle is Australia with a face and ears.

Ears On

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon, 2 August 2022

Scott Morrison walks away from a bin throwing a document called, 'Uluru Statement from the Heart' into it. Morrison says, 'It's the "From the Heart" bit I just can't relate to...'

Empathy Coach? Who Needs 'Em?

Fiona Katauskas, The Echidna, 4 May 2022

The Constitution is a puzzle with a piece missing. There is a piece next to it with the Aboriginal flag shaped as the missing puzzle piece.

Voice

Badiucao, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 August 2022

Two people sit watching TV, Anthony Albanese is on the screen. An Aboriginal flag is above the TV. Text reads, 'I for one look forward to the inevitable call for media balance between the heartfelt well-informed and the strategically bad-faith.'

Balance

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 August 2022

The original Aboriginal embassy is pictured. William McMahon is on the left saying, 'No land rights and I'll have you move within two days...' Text on the right says, '50 years old now'.

50 years Aboriginal Embassy has been standing

Danny Eastwood, Koori Mail, 22 January 2022

Four panels with a tall white figure and a smaller black figure. The tall figure talks about the 'developing brain theory' of how adolescent brains aren't developed. The smaller figure is in jail in the last panel.

Kindergarten Kop

Kamsani Bin Salleh (Kambarni), Self-published, 15 July 2022

Room called 'Dept. of Immigration Storeroom 97' containing piles of 'Unwelcome' mats. A woman shows a man a 'Welcome' mat for one family, but says the rest are for 'everyone in offshore detention'.

Making His Mark

Fiona Katauskas, The Echidna, 14 June 2022

A child with a tennis racquet is looking at a 'How to play tennis' book. Barbed wire fence acts as a net. The mother is on the other side looking dejected, also holding a tennis racquet.

Tennis Camp

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon, 12 January 2022

A boat 'ALP' speeds away from someone wearing rainbow colours in the water. A man on the boat says, 'We'll come back and pick you up when we're in government...'

Kids Overboard

Cathy Wilcox, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 February 2022

Two men sit in chairs being served drinks. One man asks, 'So, what are we going to do about the Jenkins Report?' The second man responds, 'Wha.?!? The Report IS what we did'. A prayer room with a 'busy' sign is in the background.

Setting the Standard

Pat Hudson, Self-published, 3 December 2022

Scott Morrison lies awake in a Cronulla Sharks-themed room. Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame look in through the window. Outside, the sun is rising, with the gender symbol for women visible.

Good Morning, Canberra

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 9 February 2022