Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

What the pup!?!

An almost invisible agent created the upheaval of the century. Its impact was so swift and widespread it left many people's heads spinning.

Our cartoonists charted the arrival of the coronavirus, at first from a distance and then from very, very close to home. They offered up visuals (and a gag or two) to help us make sense of our shock and our fears. And they worked hard to illuminate the heaviness of closed borders and lockdowns. From Melbourne, cartoonists caught in Victoria's second wave shone a light on the inequality and economic fears and the ever-present face of Premier Daniel Andrews.

A person, chair and table are upside down at the top of the frame. Text below reads: 'The important thing was not to panic.'

Upside-down World

Judy Horacek, Now or Never, Horacek Press

A man looks terrified as he flips over the 'March' page of a calendar to April. The 'March' picture is a green virus.

Going Out Like a Lamb ...

Chris Downes, The Mercury (Hobart), 31 March 2020

A man wearing a face mask holds a bunch of 'sorry' flowers out to a mask-wearing fortune teller. The fortune teller sits at a table in front of a crystal ball.

Expecting the Unexpected

Fiona Katauskas, Eureka Street, 31 March 2020

Coronavirus and Vegemite at a bar. Coronavirus says, 'Internationally, all people want to do is stop my spread.' Vegemite responds, 'I'm hearing you, buddy!'

Stopping the Australian Spread

Matt Golding, Nine Papers, 2 April 2020

People in lifeboats shaped as tents in rough seas. They try to reach each other with ropes.

Holding Together, Keeping Apart

David Pope, The Canberra Times, 14 April 2020

A mother sits in front of a TV. Her child walks in the door. She says, 'What are you doing home? Scott Morrison said you should be at school'. Child responds, 'We were gonna study democracy but some goose suspended parliament'.

Parliament Dropout

Peter Broelman, The Advertiser, 16 April 2020

An aerial view of a town. The town is split into nice and not-so-nice areas by a train line.

Social Distancing Goodville

Michael Leunig, Nine Papers, 2 May 2020

A 'Newton's cradle' office toy. Two balls on either side are COVID, the middle ball is Daniel Andrews.

Middle Dan

Glen Le Lievre, Patreon, 30 June 2020

Daniel Andrews in a boarded up house, surrounded by barbed wire. Neighbours are NSW and SA. Gladys Berejiklian throws a COVID-style ball over the fence to Andrews saying, 'And here's your ball back'.

Here’s Your Ball Back

Dean Alston, The West Australian, 8 July 2020

Grim Reaper drives a tram through a Melbourne street, all the shops are shut. Daniel Andrews looks glumly at the train from a window.

COVID City Circle

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review, 4 August 2020

In a nursing home room. A wolf dressed as Little Red Riding Hood tells Grandma, who sits in a chair, that she is a drag on productivity. She is shocked.

Little Red Bottom Line

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper, 8 August 2020

Scott Morrison sits at a desk, looking at screens of each state. He asks a woman holding an agenda, 'Well where are they all?' The woman responds, 'Waiting for you to top up their Skype credit.'

Untitled

Johannes Leak, The Australian, 10 August 2020

Three panels parody the lyrics to 'Hotel California. The panels show lax security guards looking at their phones, no social-distancing, and people escaping via the fire escape.

Hotel Quarantina

Mark Knight, Eureka Street, 18 August 2020

Three panels, each with a 'benefit' of a remote Senate: pat the dog, mute Pauline Hanson on a laptop, wear shorts during Question Time.

The Hidden Benefits of a Remote Senate

Chris Downes, The Mercury (Hobart), 25 August 2020