The federal Coalition rekindles its affections in Mark Knight’s cartoon

The Liberal and National parties have been in Coalition* since 1923. In the 102 years that the two have been together, they have been in government, occupied the Opposition* benches, broken up briefly and then reconnected.

The 2025 federal election and the landslide victory* for Anthony “Albo” Albanese and Labor was bound to test the strength of the relationship between the two Coalition members. And, sadly, the huge election loss was too much, with the National Party leader David Littleproud announcing the party of the bush, farmers and rural Australia was leaving the Coalition and going its own way.

New Liberal leader Sussan Ley was caught on the hop. She didn’t see it coming. Like a marriage that seemed to be going okay, despite the daily ups and downs; when one partner suddenly picks up and departs, the other is left a little shocked. Miffed. Stood up. Policy differences were cited* by the Nationals as the cause.

I drew a cartoon when the split was announced of farmer Littleproud dropping off his ex, Liberal leader Sussan Ley, at the farmgate with her bags packed. Unlike the reality TV show Farmer Wants a Wife, it appears in that cartoon that the National leader did not.

But if we fast-forward a week, and remember the popular phrase “a week is a long time in politics”, David Littleproud must have found it a bit lonely sitting in the farmhouse kitchen with just the farm kelpie for company.

Approaches went out, policy disagreements were sorted and it looked like the Coalition was back on.

I think they also realised that they were better off fighting Labor’s huge majority together, rather than as two wounded minor parties.

So now I had to draw a cartoon on the rekindling* of the Coalition. The make-up after the break-up. Like the end of a schmaltzy* romantic movie, I could see Ms Ley and Littleproud running towards each other through a field of golden barley (cue Sting’s song Fields of Gold).

There is a sunset in the background, their arms are outstretched as the moment of political re-embrace approaches. When I sketched this thought, I realised that I had drawn the cover of one of those pulp* romance Mills and Boon paperback novels! Hey, it fitted politics perfectly, so I went with it.

Let’s hope this political kiss-and-make-up lasts a little longer than some of the relationships we see on reality TV.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• coalition: two or more political parties working together to achieve a common aim
• Opposition: the party with the most non-government members in the House of Representatives
• landslide victory: winning by an overwhelming margin to claim a huge majority
• cited: mentioned, referred to
• rekindling: restarting, feeling or starting something for a second time
• schmaltzy: cheesy, overly sentimental, over the top
• pulp fiction: books printed in large quantities and sold to many people but considered poor quality

EXTRA READING

Country romance over for Coalition

Why the federal Coalition split up

Albanese’s Labor scores landslide

QUICK QUIZ

1. Which two political parties form the federal Coalition?
2. Which party won the 2025 federal election in a landslide victory?
3. Anthony Albanese is the leader of the Labor Party – what is his other job title?
4. A week is a long time in what, according to the popular saying?
5. Which artist and song title does Mark cue as the soundtrack to the Coalition’s second chance?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Humour analysis
After reading and analysing the Mark Knight cartoon in the Kids News explainer, complete the following analysis questions to help you get the full humour out of his drawing.

Mark Knight cartoon analysis:

What is the main issue Mark Knight is highlighting:

• Who is portrayed in the cartoon?
• How are they portrayed?
• What is the humour in the drawing?
• Who might agree with his viewpoint?
• Who might disagree or possibly be offended by this viewpoint?
• Do you think he makes a good point? Explain your answer.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Write a response to this cartoon from the viewpoint of one of the people or objects portrayed in the cartoon. Think, what would be their response to the speech bubble and satire from the cartoon.

Write or draw your response below.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
What happens next?
This cartoon is the second romance-inspired cartoon Mark Knight has drawn about the Coalition bust up. Imagine it will take three cartoons to tell the complete story and this one is only Part Two. Think about what the rest of the story could be and draw the final cartoon that ends the story of this newly rocky political relationship.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design, Critical and Creative Thinking