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

The Courier-Mail

The Courier-Mail was founded in 1846 as the Moreton Bay Courier, and in 1864 was renamed the Brisbane Courier before merging with The Daily Mail (Brisbane) to become The Courier-Mail, serving Brisbane and the state of Queensland. 

MP Bob Katter takes off his giant Akubra hat, revealing an exploding volcano beneath.

Under the Hat

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A man and a woman watch former PM John Howard on TV. The man says, 'John Howard is right! They don't need quotas to get more women in the liberal party.' The woman says, 'They need quotas for less out of touch, underqualified old men.'

The Liberal Party's Women Problem

Sean Leahy, The Courier-Mail,

In the style of the Godfather, the title reads, 'The Odd father.' US President Donald Trump says, 'We do you a favour and then ask something in return.' Vice President JD Vance says, 'And always pay respect to the Don.'

The Oddfather

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

Text reads, 'Back from the bush summit.' Treasurer Jim Chalmers asks, 'How was the North?' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, 'Hostile,' as a crocodile labelled 'NT Elections' bites him on the behind.

Outback Albo

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia Michele Bullock sit in a wagon labelled 'Australian Economy,' which is pulled by a dead horse. Bullock shoots a gun labelled 'rate rises' at a dragon with 'inflation' across its back.

Riding Shotgun

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A boat approaches a shore. On land, a politican says, 'Straight to Nauru for the lot of them!' Another says, 'Unless any happen to be tradies.'

Welcome

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

Staff from ASIO stand around a watercooler. One says, 'Keep an eye on that one. Could be a member of the A-Team.' They look at Mr. T from the 1980s TV series 'the A-Team.'

The A-Team

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A staffer presents Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with an Australia Day t-shirt and says, 'This might help with your falling poll numbers.' He says, 'You beauty, should I disown it, criticise it, or disparage it?' Another staffer says, 'Maybe try wearing it.'

Wearing Thin

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

In a dungeon a man is being stretched on a 'Rate rises' rack. A masked man in the doorway holds a newspaper with the headline 'Inflation slows' and says, 'Hands up who wants some good news!'

Down Tools

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A pair of legs, one foot stepping out of a pair of pink high-heel shoes marked '50s' and into a yellow football boot marked '2020s'. In front of the boot is a 'Women's World Cup' football.

Role Model

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A tank marked 'Wagner' leaves tracks going around in circles. There is a blue sign with arrows pointing in different directions to the Ukraine, Moscow and Belarus.

Ring Cycle

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

Anthony Albanese carries a net to catch a butterfly. The butterfly is in the colours of the Aboriginal flag and has the word 'Voice' on it. Albanese is waist-deep in a swamp.

Wade In

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A police officer fires a taser at a moving target featuring the silhouette of an elderly woman. The text 'NSW Police sensitivity training' appears below.

Taser vs Walking Frame

Sean Leahy, The Courier-Mail,

Jim Chalmers prepares to give a haircut to a large gorilla with the word 'budget' on its forehead. A zookeeper says, 'You're new at this, aren't you'.

The Rookie

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A disheveled Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong emerge from a 'PJK' room, smoke billows out. A man asks, 'How was the catch up with Paul?' Albanese responds: 'He went nuclear'.

So Hot Right Now

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A Buckingham Palace Guard's hat is on fire. Newspaper inside the sentry post is titled 'Record Temps'.

Bushfire

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A man in a suit with a briefcase titled 'Reserve Bank' throws a 'Rate Rise' brick off a jetty onto Scott Morrison, who is in the ocean.

Gravitas

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

A man hands a coffee to a cyclist saying, 'War is hell'. The price displayed for the coffee is $7.

War is Hell

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

Fireworks and confetti are in the sky above the Brisbane City Hall, it has a 'Brisbane 2032' banner. A person says, 'I hope all that confetti is sustainable'. Another person responds, 'Don't worry that's just cash'.

Boom!

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

Jesus says, 'I shall return and deliver salvation to the miserable masses'. Kevin Rudd sits on a rock holding a phone with Pfizer on the other end. He says, 'Get in line buddy!'

Lord and Saviour

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

As Scott Morrison sweeps women's names under a rug he says, 'Ugh, I'm hopeless at this, it must be because it's women's work'. A 'Media' vacuum is a vacuuming up the names under the rug, including 'Holgate' and 'Higgins'.

Little Help

Brett Lethbridge, The Courier-Mail,

You may also be interested in...

What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?

What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?

Common terms explained.

The sizzling history of the democracy sausage

The sizzling history of the democracy sausage

Barbecue snags and voting explained.

1916: Conscription

1916: Conscription

Australians were asked to vote on whether men in National Service could be deployed to fight in World War One.

What is a double dissolution?

What is a double dissolution?

Everything you need to know about a double dissolution.

What is the role of Australia's governor-general?

What is the role of Australia's governor-general?

The powers and duties of the governor-general explained.

The history of misinformation and disinformation

The history of misinformation and disinformation

False information from ancient times to the present.