Thrown under a Bus Route

This cartoon, titled 'Thrown under a Bus Route', by Glen Le Lievre was published in The Australian Financial Review on the 7th of March 2023. It is in landscape orientation, measuring 31 by 23 centimetres.   

This cartoon convincingly recreates the format of a public transport map. A band of navy blue runs along the top of the image. In the upper left corner, in a contrasting yellow circle, is the silhouette of a bus in the same striking navy. White letters are stamped across this upper section, reading: 'Robodebt Royal Commission: Thrown under a bus route'.  

Below, on an off-white background, Le Lievre lays out interlocking bus lines in bold red, mustard, yellow, lime and teal green. Minor stops are marked by dashes the same colour as the associated lines. Major stops and interchanges are indicated by a white circle with a thick black border.  

So far, the image very much resembles metropolitan transport maps used around the world. However, upon closer inspection, the names of the stops tell a different story. One is called 'Destroyed my notes'. Another is 'Not the minister responsible', and yet another 'Dog ate my homework'. It goes on: 'Had no idea' 'Didn't turn my mind to it' 'He said, she said', 'erased my hard drive', 'Can't recall', 'Not my job', 'Didn't ask', 'But cabinet', 'That's my honest answer', 'Too busy', 'Laser-like focus', 'Wasn't told', 'What report?', 'Following orders', 'On holidays' and 'Trusted my staff'.  

There are other stop names that are more specific and pointed – 'Robert', 'Turnbull', 'Morrison', 'Porter', 'Campbell', 'Payne', 'Tudge', 'Plausible deniability', 'Flop sweat', 'Pants on fire', 'Obfuscation' and 'Lies'.   

The bus lines loop back on themselves, covering the same ground, turning in circles, or linking back to other excuses.  

In the lower left corner, Le Lievre has included his signature in tall black lettering. 

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The label text for this cartoon reads: Glen Le Lievre uses the style of the London Underground map to make a plea for justice for the victims of Robodebt. A complex system of interconnecting rail lines illustrates the tangled web of excuses offered by witnesses called to the hearings of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. 'Stops' on the route include 'dog ate my homework' and 'trusted my staff'.