It's been another turbulent year of Australian politics, and here to showcase it all in the form of a collection of cartoons once again is the Behind The Lines exhibition.
This year, Behind The Lines draws inspiration from the world of filmmaking, with the title 'Are We Rolling?'. It features 45 of Australia's finest political cartoonists and uses the triple helping of humour, satire and pathos to interpret the year that was.
In 2026, Behind The Lines celebrates 30 years. This milestone makes it one of the longest-running annual exhibitions in Australia.
To learn more about what's being presented at this year's instalment, we speak to Behind The Lines Curator Matthew Jones.
For those unfamiliar, tell us a little bit about exactly what Behind The Lines is.
Behind The Lines is an annual exhibition showcasing the work of this country's best political cartoonists. Each exhibition presents a unique time capsule of the year in Australian politics.
It celebrates 30 years in 2026. Wow! What do you think has made Behind The Lines such a successful project over the years?
Yes, it is amazing! It’s got to be one of the longest running annual exhibitions in Australia. I think its continued success has a lot to do with the consistent quality of work produced by Australia’s political cartoonists and the constant emergence of new talent. About half the cartoonists have been appearing in the exhibition for more than decade, but there are also nine artists appearing for the first time. Also, I think many of us understand the world visually, through pictures. Political cartoons draw attention to social issues and provide commentary on contemporary politics in a visual way. So, for many people, they are a great way to engage with some of the big stories, events and personalities in Australian politics.
The theme of this year’s Behind The Lines exhibition is the cinema. How do you decide on the theme each time?
Yes, every year Behind The Lines selects a theme. We think it adds a fun extra layer to the show which we hope appeals both to regular visitors to the exhibition but also offers something for a younger audience. And each year it should be in some way inspired by the content of the show.
And why is the cinema such a fitting direction for the 2026 iteration?
We are calling this year’s theme ‘Are We Rolling?’. We went for movies partly because there seemed to be a greater than usual number of cartoons produced that used movie references. But also, for many a screenwriter and novelist, news headlines have been one of the richest sources for story ideas. And of course, the political thriller is a very popular movie genre. All these factors influenced the choice of the theme.
As curator, what sorts of things are you looking for when compiling the exhibition?
There are a range of factors considered when selecting cartoons. First of all, we are trying to tell a story of the year in Australian politics through political cartoons. So, we want to choose great cartoons that address the big events and personalities that made news in 2025. We also look at the impact of each cartoon. Does it make you laugh, does it make you think, does it have something to say on an issue that enhances public debate. Another consideration is how they look. They are works of illustrative art so we also consider a cartoon's visual appeal. Does it demonstrate excellence in the quality of the drawing or painting or digital image creation. And finally, it is important that the selections give visitors a chance to see different styles of cartoons and range of different perspectives. The Australian cartooning community is very healthy and diverse, and we want the exhibition to reflect that.
What would you say is the biggest reward in what you do as curator?
I think it’s being able to access and share the work of such an extraordinary variety of artists and illustrators. There are so many good cartoonists in Australia it’s hard to keep track of all the excellent work they are producing. Many of the cartoons appear in the major daily newspapers like the Herald Sun and The Age, but also a lot of the cartoons were published on independent online platforms like Patreon, Substack and Instagram. But through Behind The Lines, we can bring the works together to share and celebrate this variety with the visitors to the exhibition.
How about the greatest challenge?
Having to make the final selection of only 100 cartoons when there are so many great works to choose from!
Behind The Lines is displaying once again as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Why is it such a good fit for this event?
I think it’s a perfect fit. Political cartoons are one of the most popular and enduring forms of satire. While the purpose of satire is to expose and/or shame powerful people and groups that, in the opinion of the satirist, have misused their power, they often do it through humour. We have included a broad range of cartoonists who are the very best in the country, so, even if you’re not into politics, I’d be surprised if there wasn’t something in the show that made you laugh out loud.
How are you hoping attendees respond to the works that have been chosen this year?
That’s a good question. I hope they reflect on how lucky we are to live in a country where there is such a strong tradition of political satire, and what an important role these artists play in our democracy. And I hope they laugh!
Behind The Lines is on at Old Treasury Building (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) from 2 March-3 May.
