MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. Some exhibitions and rooms will be closed from September 2025 for essential building works. Learn more

Behind the Lines

Nine Papers

Two men look out of a window at people protesting war. One says, 'Can you believe the violence of these protestors?' The other replies, 'Absolute barbarians, the lot of them.' Behind them are large tanks. A half-obscured sign reads, 'As tested in Ga…'

Barbarians

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paints on a small canvas. A large canvas signed by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke looms behind him.

The Vision

Jim Pavlidis, Nine Papers,

A fuel pump with Peter Dutton's face and a meter labelled 'opinion poll' that reads 'O%' pours fuel on to a small fire.

Fuelling Division

Jim Pavlidis, Nine Papers,

A woman climbs up a hill to a monk. She says, 'Oh wise one, should I give my last dollars to the tax-benefitted landlord who raises my rent without fixing my draughty windows, or the government-subsidised fossil-fuel company that offers expensive warmth today in exchange for climate chaos tomorrow?' The monk says, 'Sorry lady, I do moral contemplation. You need decent legislation.'

Legislative Failings

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

Text reads, 'Airport slots.' A large Qantas plane whistles and holds up a hand at a small Rex plane, which veers off to the side.

Slot Hoarding

Matt Golding, Nine Papers,

A sign reads, 'Highest average global temperature ever recorded.' A child says, 'Why won't the government do something about it?' Their parent says, 'They have.' The sign has changed to 'Climate protesters jailed.'

Climate Action

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

Tourists gather around George Washington's tomb. Their guide says, 'And here you can see where he turned over in his grave in 2016, here again on January 6th 2021, and here, here and here since the commencement of the 2024 election campaign.'

Unpresidented

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

Labor senator Fatima Payman asks, 'Well, do we recognise a Palestinian State, or don't we?' Senator Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stand in front of a box labelled 'ALP, two state solution,' and Albanese says, 'you've heard of Schrodinger's cat?'

Two States

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

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 giant panda chews on a bamboo stalk which serves a part of the Australian coat of arms. The coat's kangaroo and emu look angry and scared. Text reads, 'Ties are back on track.'

Auss

Badiucao, Nine Papers,

Climate scientists yell warnings through the 'Policy Generating Science Translator 3000.' Politicians hear that everything is fine. One says, 'How good is science?'

Lost in Translation

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

A politician stands at a podium. Many of his speech bubbles overlap, things like 'We know you're doing it tough' and 'The system is broken.' He leaves, and people take his words, and try to assemble the letters into a makeshift shelter.

Only Words

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leans out of a high gate to offer a celebratory '2-years' cake to a hungry and unhoused group of politicians – Peter Dutton, Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd and Scott Morrison.

Feeding the Lodgeless

John Shakespeare, Nine Papers,

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,

A child looks at a phone. From the phone, many red lines connect many different social media logos, and graphic imagery like guns, porn and targets. This leads to a line of yellow police tape.

Antisocial Media

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

Text reads, 'Gina Rinehart inspects her rebate for $300.' Mining magnate Rinehart leans over a microscope.

Gina's Bill Relief

Matt Golding, Nine Papers,

Next to a cigarette labelled '50 years' is a water bottle labelled '1000 years,' and a person with a 3M logo inside them labelled 'forever.' The logo is made up of text that lists items like non-stick cookware and dental floss.

Lingering Problems

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

Parents watch a TV that says, 'How do we get men to treat women with respect?' In a darkened room, their child searches on a computer, 'How to make girls do whatever you want them to do.'

Upstairs, Downstairs

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

Text reads, 'Lest we forget.' Two sets of graveyards are labelled 'Men and women who gave their lives for their country,' and 'Women who lost their lives because men got angry.'

Lest We Forget

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

Text reads, 'Terror Australis.' Against a black and grey scrawl, a red silhouetted person raises their fist over a cowering red silhouetted person.

Terror Australis

Alan Moir, Nine Papers,

In a large gallery, Ken Done's colourful paintings adorn a wall. The last work is grey, and reads, '4th coral bleaching event.' A person says, 'I prefer his earlier work.'

I Don’t Know Much about Climate Art, But I Know What I Like

Matt Golding, Nine Papers,

Treasurer Jim Chalmers shows off the new improved competition watchdog, represented by a giant dog with one new tooth.

Implant

Andrew Dyson, Nine Papers,

The beginnings of a scam email from 'Prince Rishi Sunak' reads 'Dear Beloved Sirs and Madam, Due to political instability in my home country of Brexitlandia, I have a Significant Defence Capability that I would like to transfer to you. Please send AUD$4.6 BILLION to clear the bottlenecks and I will repay your kindness by sending you...' Below, next to balloons labelled 'AUKUS,' UK politicians propose obvious scams to Australian politicians. Defence Minister Richard Marles gives away the security code to a g

AUKUS

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

Text reads, 'Bulbs – a field guide.' Pointing to a plant bulb with green shoots that looks like former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, text reads, 'Hardy Perennial, pungent, can cause irritation, annoyingly bright.' Other text, pointing to a yellowing bulb with wilting roots and shoots and featuring Donald Trump's face, reads, 'Highly invasive, can cause nausea and/or vomiting, no discernible luminescence.'

Botanical Notes

Andrew Dyson, Nine Papers,

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen says, 'I anticipated obstacles, but not like this.' His Road to Renewables is blocked by a giant Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek holding a koala.

The Big Environmental Legislation

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,

Text reads, 'Messages from Dunkley.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese looks out on to the night sky, where bat-signal-like symbols show 'Tax cut' over a thumbs-up, and a picture of money going into a hand.

Dunkley Sends a Message

Megan Herbert, Nine Papers,

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,

You may also be interested in...

Eight ways an Australian prime minister can lose the top job

Eight ways an Australian prime minister can lose the top job

How the head of the government can lose their position.

The 1966 Wave Hill walk-off

The 1966 Wave Hill walk-off

The Gurindji strike and its legacy explained.

How to vote in Australia

How to vote in Australia

Your guide to voting in Australian elections.

How are votes counted?

How are votes counted?

The vote tallying process in Australian federal elections explained.

1928: State debts

1928: State debts

The 1928 referendum asked Australians to change the way finances were managed by the Commonwealth and states.

The sizzling history of the democracy sausage

The sizzling history of the democracy sausage

Barbecue snags and voting explained.