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The question of what makes for an effective political leader loomed large in 2010. The sudden demise of Rudd, the swift rise of Gillard and the near-success of Abbott surprised many. The Greens’ Bob Brown and the Nationals’ Barnaby Joyce demonstrated the broad spectrum of values held by Australian political leaders. Cartoonists came to the fore as they tried to get behind politician’s masks to reveal their motivations and personalities.

Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard as a barmaid in a hotel. She stands to the left of the cartoon, facing the viewer. Behind her is a bench with sundry items on it, such as a flower pot with yellow flowers and two bottles. Behind her can be seen some of the patrons of the hotel. They are all men. Some wear hats; two of them wear miner's helmets. Their faces are somewhat grim. Gillard's expression is slightly smug and mischievous. - click to view larger image
'Raising the bar' by Matthew Davidson
Political cartoon depicting the House of Representatives in the Australian Parliament. In the foreground, in silhouette, is Malcolm Turnbull. He wears a top hat and is making a speech. In the backgound, some people can be seen in the public gallery. Two of them are talking; one says 'Great speech ...' and the other says 'Spoken like a leader'. In the left middle ground sits Tony Abbott, with red lips and ears. - click to view larger image
'Great speech' by Alan Moir
Political cartoon depicting Bob Brown. He is seen sitting, visible from about the lower chest up. He wears a grey suit and a green and yellow tie. In front of him is a tiny flower pot with a seedling in it. On the pot is written 'The Green Vote'. Brown holds both hands, fingers touching, over the seedling as though he's protecting it. - click to view larger image
'Coming in from the wilderness' by John Spooner
Political cartoon depicting Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd as vacuum cleaners. At left is Tony Abbott as a blue upright vacuum. His head is attached to the vertical part of the vacuum. Above is written 'Upright model. Lightweight! Entertaining! Class-leading suction!' At right is Kevin Rudd as a red barrel-style vacuum. His head is attached to the front, and the hose enters via his mouth. Above is written 'Compact model. Cordless. Bagless. Soulless. Charmless. Etc. Etc.' At the top of the cartoon is written 'Electors! Don't settle for more - get a moral vacuum'. - click to view larger image
'Carpeted' by Andrew Dyson
Political cartoon Kevin Rudd with two children. He sits in a large green lounge chair, wearing a brown suit. On his lap sits a young girl, in a blue dress. She has a book open on her lap. On the floor, a boy in a brown jumper plays with models of wind turbine generators and a model solar panel. At the bottom of the cartoon is written 'Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great Moral Challenge of our Time?' Rudd gazes off into space, as though he's avoiding the girl's question. - click to view larger image
'Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great Moral Challenge of our Time?' by David Pope
Political cartoon depicting Kevin Rudd and Therese Rein. She is wearing a red jacket and is much, much larger than him. He is shown in a dark suit, climbing down off her left shoulder, using a ladder. - click to view larger image
'Stepping down' by John Tiedemann
Political cartoon depicting Barnaby Joyce. He wears a dark suit and stands holding a potted plant. The plant has a stalk and two branches. On one branch sprouts the head of Pauline Hanson. On the other branch sprouts the head of Bob Katter. Part of the plant appears attached to Joyce's head, suggesting he sprouted from it also. - click to view larger image
'New and old growth' by Ward O'Neill
Political cartoon depicting a man putting a poster up on a brick wall. The poster shows Julia Gillard, in red and blue. The word 'HOPE' is at the bottom of the poster. A woman stands to the left, watching the man. She is saying 'I wouldn't bother ...'. - click to view larger image
'Not looking hopeful' by Fiona Katauskas
Political cartoon depicting Tony Abbott as a boxer. He extends his right arm, which has a large red glove on its hand. On the glove is written 'POLITICS'. His other arm is in a sling. On the sling is written 'POLICY'. His expression is one of resolve and determination. - click to view larger image
'Pragmatic pugilist' by John Spooner
Political cartoon depicting a man lying on a beach. He is red all over and wears white swimming trunks and sunglasses. In the sky above him, Tony Abbott's head is seen as the sun. Heat radiates from it, and his eyes are red. - click to view larger image
'Abbott warming' by Reg Lynch
Political cartoon depicting Tony Abbott as a monk, on a stained glass window. He kneels in the centre of the image, wearing a monk's robe. He holds a small box with a key in it. Around him are flowers, food, angels and a tree with the serpent from the Garden of Eden wrapped around it. In the sky, the hand of God emerges from a cloud, giving the 'thumbs up' sign. Abbott's expression is one of amazement and thanks. - click to view larger image
'Abbott's gift' by David Follett
Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard lying on her stomach on a bed. In the backgound is a window with the moon and night sky visible. A long curtain is blown toward the bed. Julia wears a flowing dress and a red, blue and white scarf. She rests her chin in her hands and looks at the viewer. At the left of the cartoon is a bottle of perfume, with 'Julia parfum' on it. Above the bottle is written 'Introducing Julia. 100% Gillard with a hint of desperation'. - click to view larger image
'100% Gillard' by David Rowe

EXPLORE MORE 2010 cartoons

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