MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. Some exhibitions and rooms are closed for essential building works. Learn more

Behind the Lines

Instagram

Around an image of a grey teacher crumbling to pieces and a worried-looking student, text reads, 'Teachers working conditions are student learning conditions are…'

Teachers Working Conditions

Sam Wallman, Instagram,

A plane drop bombs on Gaza. Two people run away. One says, 'Australia's Foreign Affairs minister says they only export non-lethal parts for the F-35 fighter jet.' The other says, 'Oh, what a relief.'

Australia's Non-Lethal Parts for Lethal Weapons

Jess Harwood, Instagram,

A black and white linocut print shows the shoulders and head of a rabbit, with ships in bottles pointing towards its spine, and one ship in its head, pouring out of its mouth.

Farewell to Old England Forever

Mirranda Burton, Instagram,

People and media crowd outside the Latrobe Valley Court, above it says, ‘One woman guilty of murder via mushrooms.’ Next door is an empty NT Coroner building, above it says, 'The entire Northern Territory police force bears the hallmarks of institutional racism that lead to the death of Kumanjayi Walker. '

Podcasts vs Justice

Jess Harwood, Instagram,

Text reads, ' Inflatable balloon housing policy artists. ' PM Anthony Albanese and former Liberal leader Peter Dutton make balloon animal houses. Economists say, 'It's a dog; a dodo; no… a donkey!; A turkey; a fiscal maugean skate.'

Performance Artists Inflating the Problem

Matt Golding, Instagram,

Against a backdrop of police in riot gear, two protestors in medical masks kiss.

LA Protests

Jess Kitty Parker, Instagram,

Activist Greta Thunberg stands at the bow of a boat wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh. Text reads, 'We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity - Greta Thunberg.'

Greta - Humanity

Nordacious, Instagram,

Text reads, 'Build homes not prisons.' Small panels show neglected social services, and one well-kept prison with an open door.

Build Homes Not Prisons

Sam Wallman, Instagram,

In the style of a vintage cereal box, text reads, 'Krunchy Kapitalism – Eat the Rich cereal.' The heads of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos sit in milk on a giant spoon. Text reads, 'Goes down easy, like their workers’ rights.'

Eat the Rich

Nordacious, Instagram,

Old-fashioned assembly instructions show the parts of an MK 84 bomb. Senator Penny Wong says, 'Just parts. Nothing lethal in nature. Parts!' Text reads, 'Proudly supplying non-lethal bits. Outcomes may vary – and are absolutely not our responsibility. All refund requests will be honoured with one deep concern, TM.'

Nothing Lethal in Nature

Nordacious, Instagram,

Two figures smile. One figure with a smiling blue brain says, 'What’s on your mind?' The other figure with a red brain labelled PANIC says, 'Nothing.'

PANIC

Shuturp, Instagram,

In four panels, a woman is distressed. Text says, 'Her life got too much, so she started to paint.' The woman smiles. Text says, 'Which put things in perspective.' She cries.

Put Things in Perspective

Scott Wrigg, Instagram,

A crowd of people at night look at their phones. Text reads, 'The problems of the world are too heavy for us to bear alone.'

The Problems of the World

Rosie Murrell, Instagram,

A First Nations mother gives birth. A doctor holds the baby. A police officer says, 'Guilty until proven innocent or something … scissors!' Beside them, another First Nations baby is in a small cage.

Tough on Children

Kamsani Bin Salleh (Kambarni), Instagram,

In a vintage-style illustration, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift holds up a wine glass and has a cat on her shoulder. Text reads, 'Childless cat lady.'

Childless Cat Lady

Nordacious, Instagram,

Text reads, 'Australians in Winter'. One person is wearing long pants, a jumper and sunglasses, labelled, 'Dressing for the outdoors.' Another person is rugged up in extra clothing, including a beanie, scarf and gloved, and labelled, 'Dressing for inside the house.'

Baby, It's Cold Inside

Jess Harwood, Instagram,

Journalist Laura Tingle is on the stand next to a judge in an ABC booth. The judge says, 'Ms. Tingle, you are charged with the crime of stating that water is wet. What say you?!'

Water is Wet

Nordacious, Instagram,

A long comic talks about Australia's environmental laws, which have approved 740 fossil fuel projects since they were created. The last panel reads, 'Old Albo, where are you? Tag Albo and Environment Minister Plibersek and tell them they must assess climate impacts of coal and gas mines under the laws that approve 99% of them.'

Our Broken Environment Laws

Jess Harwood, Instagram,

Text in a busy city reads, 'The 21st century: We've stuffed it.' Then in the same polluted skies but with flying cars, 'Vibe is off for 22,' and the last panel a person with a space helmet kicks a rock and text says, '23rd century is our chance, baby.'

Vibe Is Off

Scott Wrigg, Instagram,

You may also be interested in...

1975 election

1975 election

Everything you need to know about the 1975 double dissolution election.

Audio described cartoons

Audio described cartoons

Hear audio descriptions of political cartoons from Behind the Lines exhibitions.

1951: Communists and communism referendum

1951: Communists and communism referendum

In the 1951 referendum, Australia voted no on banning Communist ideology by the barest of margins.

The 1966 Wave Hill walk-off

The 1966 Wave Hill walk-off

The Gurindji strike and its legacy explained.

What is a royal commission?

What is a royal commission?

Your guide to royal commissions in Australia.

How elections are called in Australia

How elections are called in Australia

The start of the election process explained.