Welcome to Behind the Lines 2024, the Museum of Australian Democracy’s annual exhibition of political cartoons.
In these audio descriptions, you’ll hear three voices. Ruth and Ben, two MoAD Museum staff, will describe the cartoons. I’m Matt, the curator of the exhibition, and I’ll read the label after each cartoon description.
The introduction panel reads:
We’ve done a tough pre-season, slogged our way up sandhills, lugged around medicine balls and downed protein shakes, and now we’re fit and ready for another year of Behind the Lines: The Year in Political Cartoons. In an Olympic year, where we saw a gold rush for Australia in Paris, what better way to reflect on how Australia’s politicians stuck to the game plan, attacking, defending and providing the nation’s cartoonists with plenty of fodder.
Spiralling cost of living, rising energy bills, and the housing crisis. Like a jaded fan lamenting another disappointing showing with the familiar refrain, ‘there’s always next year’, some recent issues seem to return with monotonous, and worrying, regularity. Other, more longstanding struggles continue to make news. There is war in the Middle East. The gap between First Nations Australians and the broader population persists. And climate change, asylum seekers and domestic violence are all issues that continue to trouble us in 2024.
It’s been a big year for democracy, with over half the world’s population lacing up their boots to get to their nearest polling booth, then waiting with bated breath to see which candidates will be first past the post and stand atop the podium.
Our Most Valuable Player, Political Cartoonist of the Year Megan Herbert, leads a fast, powerful and skilful team of cartoonists ready to cut through the opposition’s defence like a hot knife through butter, blow the whistle when someone’s offside and tackle all the issues head on. And maybe make you laugh.
Whoever you support, we hope you’ll enjoy this year’s season of Behind the Lines. And remember: no guts, no glory.
