Election 2010 | National Museum of Australia

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Just three weeks after becoming Prime Minister, Julia Gillard announced that an election would be held on 21 August 2010. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott proved to be a disciplined and effective opponent, continually attacking the government on the issues of government waste, tax, debt reduction and asylum seekers. For its part, Labor struggled unsuccessfully to put the question of why Kevin Rudd had been deposed behind it.

Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard in a cart being pulled through a crowd. She stands triumphant, with her arms aloft and her red hair emphasised. Also in the cart are media representatives, note-takers, two masked men, a man in an 'Uncle Sam'-style hat and a man in a white hat. The cart appears to be pulled by several large, bearded men. In the foreground, the faces of the crowd all register despair, sadness and melancholy. - click to view larger image — Untitled by Michael Fitzjames

Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard galloping across a landscape on a large horse. The horse has 'Credibility' on the blanket on its back, and is attached to a cart in front of it. On the side of the cart is a sign that says 'Election'. In the cart are several people, looking in different directions. One man has his arms folded and looks annoyed. In the sky nearby, Tony Abbott is seen pedalling a flying bicycle, with wings and a propellor on the back. He heads in the same direction as Gillard, and wears a pair of red swimming trunks. She looks up at him. - click to view larger image — 'The cart before the horse' by Ian Sharpe

Political cartoon of six panels depicting the federal election as a green long-snouted imaginary animal. At the top of the cartoon is written 'The Federal Election is sitting by the phone, waiting to be called'. In the first panel, the election sits in an armchair, looking bored. In the second panel, the election is making a cup of tea. At the top of the panel is written 'It makes a cup of tea'. In the next panel, the election is watching television. At the top of the panel is written 'And watches some television'. A speech bubble emerges from the television. It says 'I'm saying Australians are naturally a people who want to go forward'. In the next panel, the election dejectedly drinks its tea. At the top of the panel is written 'It wonders to itself, what is the point? Hope and despair are the same. Nothing changes'. In the next panel, the election sits in the armchair, staring out of a window. At the top of the panels is written 'It stares out the window at the passing traffic. Maybe it's time to start taking Zoloft again'. In the last panel, the election is still in the armchair. At the top of the panel is written 'It is having a nap when the phone rings'. The election is saying 'Nzzg what?' A ringing phone is next to the chair. - click to view larger image — 'Democracy in crisis! Or perhaps just having an off day' by First Dog on the Moon

Political cartoon depicting an Australian serviceman on a ship. He wears black and grey camouflage and a black cap. He looks through a pair of binoculars. Behind him is a case attached to a wall of the ship. At the top of the case is written 'Anti people-smuggling device'. In the case is a miniature John Howard, in a blue suit. At the right of the case is a hammer on a string. - click to view larger image — 'Anti people-smuggling device' by Warren Brown

Political cartoon depicting a man in a suit on top of a large, glowing white elephant. The elephant leans down toward some houses; what appears to be multi-strand fibre-optic cable emerges from its trunk and attaches to the houses. In the background is the starry night sky. - click to view larger image — 'Trunk call' by Pat Campbell

Political cartoon depicting a golden badge. On the badge is written 'Economic Credentials'. Around the badge is a dotted line for cutting out the badge. At the left is written 'Hey kids! Make your own. It's easy! 1. Cut along dotted line. 2. Exaggerate loudly about your role in fiscal policy. 3. Wear.' In the top right corner of the cartoon is written 'As seen on TV!'. - click to view larger image — 'Credentials' by Glen Le Lievre

Political cartoon depicting Tony Abbott. At the top left of the cartoon is written 'Work Choices'. In the upper left of the cartoon, Abbott is furiously chopping something with a meat cleaver. Above him is written 'Kill it ...' In the upper right of the cartoon, Abbott has a shovel. Above him is written 'Bury it ...' In the lower left of the cartoon, he has a frypan and a blowtorch. Above him is written 'Cremate it'. In the lower right of the cartoon, Abbott has a wok, in which is a brown blob with one eye. Above him is written 'And serve ...'. - click to view larger image — 'Work Choices' by David Rowe

'Worming out of the election debate' by Peter Broelman

Political cartoon depicting a shack in a barren landscape. A derelict car is nearby. A man stands outside of the shack, looking at a low-flying aeroplane passing by. The aeroplane tows a banner that says 'Campaign 2010'. The man speaks to a woman sitting on the step of the shack. He says 'I think they might have waved ...' In the top left corner of the cartoon is written 'Meanwhile'. - click to view larger image — 'I think they might have waved' by Alan Moir

Political cartoon depicting Jullia Gillard standing before a map of Australia on a board. At the top of the map is written 'Political Landscape'. A man stands with her, holding a clipboard. On the map, in Queensland is written 'Broadband', in New South Wales is written 'Border Protection' and in Western Australia is written 'Mining Votes'. The man says to Gillard 'When should we do something to save the Murray?' She says 'When it changes its course through Queensland and Western Sydney!'. - click to view larger image — 'Landscape' by Peter MacMullin

Political cartoon depicting two women sitting on a couch. One holds a cup, while the other sits with her arms folded. In front of them is a coffee table with magazines and a cup and saucer on it. A cat is near the couch, to the left in the cartoon. The woman holding the cup says 'I can't wait till after the election when everything will be perfect'. - click to view larger image — 'Prophecy' by Lindsay Foyle

Political four-segmented cartoon depicting Tony Abbott with a laptop computer. He wears red swimming trunks and a yellow and red surf livesaver's skullcap. At the top of the cartoon is written 'Tony Abbott fires off an email clarifying his internet broadband gaffe...' In the first segment, Abbott is at the laptop. Above is written 'Type it'. In the second segment, he is still at the laptop. Above is written 'Sign it'. In the third segment, he is still at the laptop. Above is written 'Address it'. In the fourth segment, he is putting the laptop into a red Australia Post letterbox. Above is written 'Send it'. - click to view larger image — 'Broadband gaffe' by Paul Zanetti

Political cartoon depicting Mark Latham, in green trousers and a white shitrt with '60 Minutes' on it. He is walking along; as he walks, many marbles fall from his ears and bounce away behind him. Near his head is written 'Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick'. His expression is one of anger and aggression. At the top of the cartoon is written 'A conga line of marbles ...'. - click to view larger image — 'A conga line' by Vince O'Farrell

Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott standing at a table. On the table is a bowl. Both hold a set of keys above the bowl; both sets have a key tag in the shape of Queensland. Gillard's tag is red, while Abbott's tag is blue. They look at each other as they hold the keys over the bowl. In the background is a wall with patterned wallpaper on it. The pattern is reminiscent of the 1970s. - click to view larger image — 'Our swinging state' by Jonathan Bentley

Political cartoon depicting Tony Abbott standing on a beach. He wears red swimming trunks and looks out to sea through a pair of binoculars. He stands under a sign that says 'Stop the boats'. A thought bubble emerges from his head. In it he thinks 'Start the boats! Start the boats!'. - click to view larger image — 'Stop the boats!' by Jon Kudelka

'Moving forward' by Mark Knight

Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard floating in water, just under the surface. She is weighed down by several weights, around her wrist, leg and ankle. Two of the weights are the head of Kristina Keneally, while the other is in the shape of New South Wales. Gillard reaches up above the surface of the water with one hand. Nearby, other Gillards sink down, attached to New South Wales or Kristina Keneally weights. - click to view larger image — 'That sinking feeling' by John Tiedemann

Political six-panel cartoon depicting the Liberal Party campaign headquarters. At the top of the cartoon is written 'The Coalition's uncosted policies are revolting'. In the first panel, two dogs in suits stand outside a door. Above is written 'At Liberal Party Campaign Headquarters ...' On a door nearby is written 'Uncosted Policies'. Speech balloons emerge from the door. They say 'No, your mama', 'Blerrgh' and 'Yoh!' One dog says 'What on earth is all of that noise?' The other dog says 'That? Ignore it. It's the uncosted policies, they're getting a bit restless'. In the next panel, one of the dogs enters the room of the Uncosted Policies. Many small and unusual animals mill about. The dog says 'Hey! Would you keep it down in here. Some of us are trying to win an election!' Some policies reply with 'We wanna be costed!', 'Let us go' and 'Set us free'. In the third panel, the dog says 'How many times do I have to tell you? It's not safe! You might get leaked, or even worse, you might have an errant decimal. Don't you remember what happened to the NBN interest rate calculation?' Some policies reply with 'What happened to that guy?', 'Who?', 'He still owes me $20!' and 'I don't read the paper'. In the next panel, the dog says 'The Treasurer got hold of him and tore him to tiny pieces! And if you don't keep the noise down he might just come for you, after dark!' Some policies reply with 'Wahhh', 'Aggghh!', 'There there' and 'You made the Health Policy cry'. In the next panel, the dog says 'Oh for Godsakes, it's only another week! If you stay quiet you might just get out here with no scrutiny at all. Now shut up!' Some polices reply with 'Sniffle', 'How rude!', 'Well, I'm bored. I'm gonna make a cubby out of cushions' and 'Cubby!' The dog leaves and slams the door. In the last panel, the dog stands outside the door, listening to what is going in the Uncosted Policies room. Speech bubbles surround the door. They say 'Hey look! Under the couch!', 'Oh my! It's the Charter of Budget Honesty!', 'And someone's stuffed it full of marshmallows!', 'Food fight!', 'Awesome!', 'Yeah!' and 'Anyone got a candle?'. - click to view larger image — 'The charter of budget honesty not explained' by First Dog on the Moon

Political cartoon depicting a sinking ship. The ship has a red and grey hull and 'Labor' on the side of the hull. It is sinking down into the depths of the ocean, watched by some fish. On the deck stands Julia Gillard and a man. The man is saying to her 'We've stopped leaking!'. - click to view larger image — 'Stopped leaking' by John Farmer

Political cartoon depicting part of a coastline. At the top of the cartoon is written 'Getting tougher with smugglers ...' Along the coastline have been erected enormous cut-out figures of Tony Abbott, wearing red swimmers and standing in a defiant pose with his hands on his hips. Each cut-out is supported by a beam attached at the back. A boat carrying refugees has approached the coast, but has turned around and is heading back out to sea. On the side of the boat is written 'Christmas Island or bust'. Someone on the boat is saying 'That's just plain cruel ...'. - click to view larger image — 'Getting tougher with smugglers' by Greg Smith

Political cartoon depicting Julia Gillard leaning against the bar of a hotel. She wears a black 'AC/DC' T-shirt, black track pants, a red, white and blue scarf and beanie. She has tattoos on her arms and holds a glass of beer in one hand. Part of her midriff is exposed. Nearby stand three men, each holding a beer and wearing very casual clothing (shorts, T-shirts, singlets etc). They all look at her, as does the barmaid in the background. Under the cartoon is written 'Apparently she reckons she's the real Julia ...'. - click to view larger image — 'The real Julia' by Maurice Argiro

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