Highly anticipated and scorchingly honest, Behind the Lines 2014 celebrates the best political cartoons of 2014.

“The 33 cartoonists who feature in Behind the Lines 2014 wryly comment on Tony Abbott’s first year in government. They see the Coalition attempting to deliver strong and stable leadership, as well as fulfilling their election promises to stop the boats, axe the tax, fix the budget and reduce red tape. Meanwhile, a restless Australian Labor Party waits for its Leader to ditch the past, move forward and say something.

Cartoonists saw 2014 as a year when conflict abroad tragically affected the lives of many Australians. The passing of Gough Whitlam was another event which resonated nationally, and three cartoonists reflect on Whitlam’s legacy in this year’s exhibition.

“Behind the Lines 2014 gives us an evolving vantage point from which to consider recent political history,” said Ms Daryl Karp, Director of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Ms Karp said that the hundreds of cartoons considered for this year’s exhibition were of an exceptionally high standard. “We are profoundly lucky that in Australia, cartoonists are free to poke fun at our politicians and satirise the most contentious of national issues. Behind the Lines 2014 exemplifies our vision to celebrate the spirit of Australian democracy, and the power of individual voices.”

Behind the Lines is a Museum of Australian Democracy travelling exhibition.