Winner: Badiucao, The Age, “Albo’s Choice”

Judges’ citation:

Badiucao’s [pron. buddy-a-chow, read as one syllable) political cartoon is a clear winner for its powerful and immediate depiction of Australia’s precarious position in an increasingly polarised global landscape. Through striking visual symbolism, it captures Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s struggle to navigate trade diplomacy between two authoritarian forces—China’s Communist Party and a Trump-led United States. The use of Trump’s military-style uniform subtly but effectively conveys the growing threat of right-wing authoritarianism in the West. The tightrope-like journey between the two leaders, represented by their outstretched tongues, encapsulates the impossibility of Australia’s geopolitical balancing act. Badiucao’s cartoon’s ability to distill a complex, multi-layered issue into a single, evocative image is what ultimately sets it apart, making it a deserving winner.

Highly Commended:

Megan Herbert, The Age, “How to cook Australia’s energy transition”

Shortlisted:

Joe Benke, The Age, “The Age 2024 State budget front cover cartoon”

Matt Golding, The Sunday Age, “Dutton’s nuclear policy homework”