MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. Some exhibitions will be closed from 14 July to early September 2025 for essential building works. Learn more

Behind the Lines

The Australian Financial Review

The Australian Financial Review is a business-focused daily newspaper covering the current business and economic affairs of Australia and the world.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ASIO chief Mike Burgess hold up the bar for a pole vaulting Grim Reaper with a bomb strapped to his back and a scythe labelled 'Terrorism.' The landing mat is labelled 'Terror threat'. Albanese says, 'Should we raise it Mike?'

Terror Threat

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Worried Immigration Minister Andrew Giles lies in bed, thinking, 'Drones? It's just a nightmare.' Outside his window is a hulking drone with Peter Dutton's face, saying, 'Morning Giles.'

Morning, Giles

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A female-symbol, upright, ends in a hand which grips a male symbol. The male's extended fist is covered in blood. At the base of the painting are many overlapping female symbols.

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Text description coming.

The Eyes of a Needle

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a naval officer re-enact the moment from Titanic where Jack stands behind Rose, on a large warship labelled '$11 billion warship upgrade'. Albanese says, 'Open your eyes,' and the naval officer says, 'I'm flying!'

Battleship Politics

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A group of people look up at the sky. Animated houses fly by, their roofs flapping like wings.

High Prices

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

Four people sit in a room, one says, 'Ok... we've got the stupid racist vote.. now what?' Another responds, 'We appeal to their higher selves', a third says 'Smart racists'.

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A frail Benjamin Netanyahu sits in a hospital bed with his chest hooked up to a red IV. In the next bed lies a lady called 'Justice' whose heart monitor shows a flat line. Text reads: 'Peacemaker pacemaker?'

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A colourful bus map representing the Robodebt Royal Commission.

Thrown under a Bus Route

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

In front of Australian Parliament House flying the Aboriginal flag, Anthony Albanese places a paper 'Voice' boat on a red, yellow and black pond.

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Across a table from Xi Jinping, flanked with a wall of large missiles, four men, including Anthony Albanese, sit with a handful of small missiles. Albanese says, 'And there's more where that came from... right Jimbo?'

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Entitled 'John Howard Wilderness Tours', a short man guides a tall man through a jungle, saying 'Forget about the sharks... but I'd watch out for snakes, spiders and Nazis...' A skeleton holds a 'Robodebt' sign.

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese dressed in green as Robin Hood characters sit in a tree. Albanese asks, 'But just say you did have, say, 3 mill in super..? 2025 right?'

Untitled

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Queen Elizabeth II enters gold gates, corgis with white wings run to her. Sir John Kerr sits with Gough Whitlam who says, 'This should be interesting...'

Vale Queen Elizabeth II

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese are at a bathroom vanity. They wipe the mirror to reveal reflections of Paul Keating and Bob Hawke. They think, 'Oh you handsome devil you...'

Summit Prep Continues

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A cocktail party with red curtains. Independent MPs stand together. Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen stand together saying how 'cozy' it is. Bowen asks whether he should turn the temperature down.

Climate Control

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Anthony Albanese wears a crown and holds a chalice on a medieval battleground. Other candidates stand in the background holding weapons or lie defeated on the ground.

The Marrickville miracle

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A man pointing to a TV says, 'Guys! Albo's gaffe-ing again. I've paused it!!.. Guys!? Guys!?' Another man says, 'Ahem. Josh is in Kooyong. Greg is in Aspen. And I'm not sure where Angus, Tudgey, Linda or anyone else is at the moment...'

Albo's Gaffing Again

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison are in a running race, Morrison carries baggage including another man who says, 'He's got nothing Scotty...' Text below reads, 'And they're off...'

And They're Off

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Scott Morrison lies awake in a Cronulla Sharks-themed room. Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame look in through the window. Outside, the sun is rising, with the gender symbol for women visible.

Good Morning, Canberra

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

In the style of the game 'Space Invaders' hospital workers throw vaccine syringes at the virus. 'Deaths' and 'Lives Saved' are in the top corners.

Space invaders

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

Dog store called 'Watchdogs'. Inside are two big, vicious dogs called IBAC and ICAC. A third small dog lies on a sign that reads, 'Federal integrity commish'. Scott Morrison is outside saying 'good boy' to the small dog.

How Much Is that Integrity

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Doctors and nurses are combined together in the form of a pretzel. One gloved hand holds a paper titled: 'Doherty Modelling'.

Pretzel

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

A passport stamped with different rooms in a house.

The Lockdown Passport

Glen Le Lievre, The Australian Financial Review,

Joe Biden and Boris Johnson cling to their respective flags. The flags are attached to a woman wearing a head covering. Scott Morrison looks glum. Helicopters are in the background.

Evacuees

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison walk arm in arm. They are at the 'low-bar' competition at the Olympics. The announcer says that they have agreed to share the gold, both men think '...until the election'.

Low Bar Olympians

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A despondent Scott Morrison tunes a guitar with the strings labelled as each of the states and territories. Text reads, 'Slow Hand Scott and The Delta Blues'.

The Delta Blues

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Gladys Berejiklian is on a hospital bed. Scott Morrison stuffs cash into her pillow saying, 'Here... let me plump your pillow Gladys'. Text reads: 'Some Victorians might find this ad distressing'.

NSW PM

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A distressed Sussan Ley stands knee-deep in water holding flippers branded 'Barrier Reef'. Behind her, Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and George Christensen are on jet skis.

Beautiful One Day ... Blindsided the Next

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Kevin Rudd says to Malcolm Turnbull, 'Finally we can agree on one thing... you're not the most powerful political actor in Australia'. Rupert Murdoch hovers over them. Fox News logo is on the bottom left.

Political Actors

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

A statue labelled 'Veteran Suicides' faces the sunrise. Scott Morrison kneels before it with a wreath labelled 'Royal Commission'. The cartoon is in a grey wash.

At the Going down of the Sun

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg walk past Christian Porter's office. Frydenberg says, 'So... it's not just the economy... stupid.'

'It's not Just the Economy ... Stupid'

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

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,

Donald Trump wears a crown and holds a bible as he walks through a violent protest. He is much larger than everyone else.

Bible Basher

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

World leaders stand around a crowded pool table. Donald Trump hits a cue ball which is Earth. The other ball on the table is COVID.

Snookered

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Anthony Albanese wheels a barrow of coal away from a 'Welcome to Queensland' sign. A shadowy figure is in the background amidst black smoke and yellow flames.

Mea Coalpa

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Scott Morrison faces bushfires holding two buckets, 'Thoughts' and 'Prayers'.

Thoughts and Prayers

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Malcom Turnbull's head sticks out of an elevator stuck between floors. A group waits below. Turnbull says, 'If you could just bear with us'. An Aboriginal flag is behind the elevator. Text reads 'The Gap'.

The Gap

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Kamala Harris holds her fist high. Hilary Clinton says to her, 'Don't look up. Trust me.' Above them is a cracked glass ceiling, with a semi-naked Donald Trump wearing a crown and royal robe lying face down on it.

Glass Ceiling

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review

You may also be interested in...

The history of misinformation and disinformation

The history of misinformation and disinformation

False information from ancient times to the present.

How elections are called in Australia

How elections are called in Australia

The start of the election process explained.

1977: National Song Poll

1977: National Song Poll

Australians were asked to pick a song for the national anthem in 1977.

What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?

What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?

Common terms explained.

Behind the lines

Behind the lines

Explore political cartoons in Behind the Lines exhibitions online.

What is the secret ballot?

What is the secret ballot?

Your guide to the voting method we use in Australia.