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Behind the Lines

How low can you go?

Break out your limbo stick, because you're about to see some contortionists at work as they show you just how low they can go.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission, launched in July 2023, received over 400 referrals of corrupt conduct in just its first three weeks of operation.

Early July also saw the release of the report from the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. During its hearings, some politicians and public servants bent over backwards to avoid questions from Commissioner Catherine Holmes AC SC. This year also brought serious revelations about conflict-of-interest issues within Australia's big public service consultancy firms in the wake of the PwC tax scandal.

Across multiple cartoon cells, a potato attends a series of meetings and investigates the misuse of confidential information at PwC.

PwC 2023

First Dog on the Moon, The Guardian Australia,

A cake with four layers labelled PwC, EY, Deloitte and KPMG, with icing in the shape of Australian Parliament House.

Consultant Cake with Government Icing

Gorkie, Crikey,

A police officer fires a taser at a moving target featuring the silhouette of an elderly woman. The text 'NSW Police sensitivity training' appears below.

Taser vs Walking Frame

Sean Leahy, The Courier-Mail,

Portrait of a woman with blonde hair wearing glasses, entitled 'Commissioner Holmes: Woman who is done with your mediocrity'.

Commissioner Holmes

Nordacious, Self-published,

Scott Morrison drives a 'robodebt' robot saying 'exterminate'. A blonde woman holding a 'Royal Commission' book discovers him. Morrison says, 'Who? Me?'

Who? Me?

Harry Bruce, The Cairns Post,

A colourful bus map representing the Robodebt Royal Commission.

Thrown under a Bus Route

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

Titled 'The Wagga Wagga "Gladys Berejiklian" Clay Target Shooting Championship'. A man fires at a clay target, finds it two years later and says, 'We're very disappointed in you!'

Ready, aim...

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper,

A military figure brings a medal to a pawn shop. The clerk says, 'Victoria Cross? This one looks a bit tarnished..."

Untitled

Warren Brown, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney),

Ben Roberts-Smith wearing military uniform and medals depicted as skulls fires a gun backward at himself. A $25,000,000 price tag is on the gun.

Unfriendly Fire

Peter Lewis, Self-published,

Peter Dutton directs Scott Morrison, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher in a play about witches. Dutton says, 'Err... O.K. Everyone... this might be a good spot for an intermission...'

The Conspiracy of Witches

David Pope, The Canberra Times,

Four women sit discussing how to report harassment. Two men look on, one says, 'Women's problems!'

Women's Problems

Cathy Wilcox, The Sydney Morning Herald,

Alan Joyce in a suit and glasses collects colourful 'Exec's baggage' from a Qantas flight airport conveyor belt. Bags include 'Latest profits' and 'COVID bail-out'.

Exec's Baggage

Cathy Wilcox, The Sydney Morning Herald,

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Old Parliament House was the home of Australia’s federal government from 1927 to 1988.