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Behind the Lines

Fuelling high performance

Fuelling up for the big match: in junior sport it's as simple as a bucket of oranges at half-time.

If you're a pro, it could be the latest sports drink, whiz-bang supplement or, for the reckless, some banned pharmaceuticals that risk generating a urine sample of nuclear intensity.

Fuelling the nation's energy consumption kept politicians busy this year, as players of all stripes spruiked the relative merits of gas, solar, wind, nuclear and coal.

The government's May Budget was praised by some as a win for clean energy, but it contained a strategy for gas fields that had climate commentators worried. Opposition leader Peter Dutton's proposal for new nuclear energy sites on former coal-fired power stations was one of the game plan adjustments of the year.

Transmission towers have fallen down in the shape of Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce lying on the ground. Text reads, 'Outmoded regional power structure flattened under the weather requiring urgent upgrade.'

Not Fit for Purpose

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

A truck labelled 'Bipartisan coal and gas rental', with Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese atop, is blocking the road for many solar panels, wind towers and batteries, which are saying things like, 'Honk!' and 'My child has an appointment with the future!'

Renewable Energy Transition Rebellion

Matt Golding, Nine Papers,

A six-panel comic featuring a person talking to the Nuclear fairy, implying that nuclear power is a fairy tale.

The Nuclear Fairy

Judy Horacek, The Australia Institute,

As dinosaurs, Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fight while pointing to nuclear and gas symbols. Meanwhile a meteor approaches in the night sky.

When Politicians Ruled the Earth

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon,

Text reads, 'Nuclear fallout – the first casualties.' People dressed in Victorian suits with bags labelled, 'Green investors,' 'Wind,' 'Solar,' 'Hydrogen,' and 'Batteries', are dying in a pale-yellow green landscape.

Nuclear Fallout

Johannes Leak, The Australian,

A plane in the shape of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's head spits exploding nuclear symbols onto a field of solar panels.

Dutton's Distract, Delay, and Destruct

Matt Golding, Nine Papers,

A family says, 'The Australian Dream seems impossible these days.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, 'Cheer up, it's closer than you think.' In his thought bubble, he rides away on a unicorn labelled Green Hydrogen.

The Australian Dream

Johannes Leak, The Australian,

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says, 'This is my policy, and it's up to the CSIRO to provide the evidence for why it's not viable.' He points to a picture of a winged unicorn.

Dutton's Policy

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

An animated lump of burning coal holding a nuclear sign runs excitedly back and forth.

Sign of the Times

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon,

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Audio described cartoons

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Cartoonists

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