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Category Archives: social issues

Hey Rupert…

The Winter 2012 Edition of Australian Options (in newsagents now!) has an article  ‘The real politics of Rupert Murdoch’  by David McKnight, author of the book Rupert Murdoch: an Investigation of Political Power.

The article argues that, although saying he simply runs his newspapers as profit making businesses, Rupert Murdoch has a deeper interest in political influence, and uses free market populism to sway debate on important issues.

These are the cartoons that illustrated the article (the article will explain just what they are referring to, but I hope they can stand alone).

Bold New World!

 

This is the cartoon in the current edition of New Internationalist.

 

If you don’t subscribe, buy a copy and check it out. To find out more and follow their blog, visit the website here.

 

And there is the Australian New Internationalist page, shop and blog here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Managing?

The Australian Government plans to introduce an income management card – called the Basics Card – to a number of low-income areas. The intervention in the Northern Territory in 2007  included income management  imposed on Aboriginal communities. Income management quarantines a proportion of welfare recipients’ benefits, through a card, which can only be spent on essentials.

This cartoon illustrates some of the concerns about the scheme, as presented in an article on the Pro Bono website news page. To read the article click here.

Engagement without Borders 2

The Engagement without Borders event (see an earlier post) was held at the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne on the 29th May. The day highlighted the challenges, difficulties – and the successes –  experienced by a wide range of people working with diverse communities. Here is a small glimpse from a cartoonist on the spot…

 

John McKenna – disability blogger

John McKenna is a well-known Australian disability commentator, and this week publishes his 80th  post on his blog. (It is also his 50th birthday this week – more reason to celebrate!).

For some time,  in collaboration with John,  I have been drawing  cartoons to illustrate some of his posts.

Secrets of cartooning: it’s easier to draw than do….

The June New Internationalist is out now. Buy it. Here is this month’s Scratchy Lines cartoon:

 

Cost of living…

A poll of  over 1700 clients by The Salvation Army showed that more than half  have gone without meals to pay for other basic necessities.  This is in Australia, a wealthy country…

Engagement without Borders

This is a quick sketch to capture some of the spirit of the International Association for Public Participation (Australasia)‘s Engagement without Borders event happening on the 29th May at the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne.

The day is described as an ‘inclusive engagement feast’ – and will include the Afghan tea cycle which I’ve drawn a bit of in my picture.  Any event held at the wonderful Abbotsford Convent is guaranteed to be something special.

 

2012 Australian Federal Budget

This is my cartoon comment on the 2012 Federal Budget, published on the Pro Bono website. To go to the website page, click here.

The look of the cartoon is a bit different as it is my first serious attempt at drawing on an iPad, with finger and stylus. I was away from my office, computer, scanner etc this week – so it was a good test.

Image

Tail tales….

SA Kids is a parenting magazine, published in South Australia. An ongoing feature in the magazine has been the story of baby Stone.  The story began before Stone was born and has been updated in each monthly (and now bi-monthly) edition.

Stone is now well past his first birthday (see an earlier post) and his parents have been teaching him the proper names of the parts of his anatomy. When it comes to applying his new knowledge to other creatures he has a little trouble confusing a tail with a …