Tough Choices, by Cathy Wilcox, is a cartoon published by the Nine Papers on the 27th of March, 2025. There are two panels side by side featuring caricatures of Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese talking to two young children. Chalmers, a tall man with sparse black hair and a blue shirt, is holding a paper that says, ‘Budget 2025.’ Albanese has a white shirt and a red gingham apron.
In the left panel, Chalmers says to the children, 'Kids, we need to level with you. There’s a lot going on in the world right now. There’s a power-crazy lunatic in the White House who threatens the world order, and even our way of life…'
Albanese adds, 'We might need to make some tough choices…'
In the righthand panel, Chalmers has scrunched up the budget paper and says, 'Just kidding. Who wants cake and ice-cream?' The children smile excitedly and both yell, 'Meeeee!!'
In the bottom right corner is the artist’s signature, 'Wilcox'.
On 25 March the government announced the federal Budget for 2025–26, which delivered tax cuts, energy bill relief, a Medicare boost, housing support and investment in education. It was seen as a 'sugar hit' because of the significant tax cuts for every taxpayer – a Budget with the upcoming election in mind.
