Satirical Political Cartoon

The purpose of a satirical political cartoon is to entertain, inform and convey the cartoonist’s message. An effective political cartoon makes the audience think about current events as well as trying to sway the audience’s opinion towards the cartoonist’s point of view. This particular cartoon includes Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s current Prime Minister, and his wife. It focusses on the potential increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The cartoonist encourages the audience to form a negative opinion on GST increasing by using satirical devices, such as; captions, symbolism, visual metaphor, allegory, and caricature.
Captions are used to persuade the audience to feel negatively in respects to a GST increase. This is because the caption placed above Malcolm Turnbull’s head saying: “Look...on second thoughts…I’ll pass.” This is implying that Turnbull didn’t think, fully, about

Symbolism is used in the setting of the cartoon, of which is where Turnbull and his wife are placed in front of a pet shop. It looks as if the couple are window shopping. Since the Goods and Services Tax is put on luxury items, it is fitting that the cartoon is placed at a pet shop. It appears as if the Prime Minister is contemplating buying the scorpion but might be set back by the higher price due to the increase in GST. Turnbull realises that not only will Australians be impacted by the growth but he and other politicians. The cartoon constructs a visual metaphor by labelling the scorpion “GST Increase”. This implies that GST, like a scorpion, comes “With a sting in it’s tail.” This is also considered as an allegorical figure due to the deeper meaning behind the scorpion’s appearance in the cartoon. Overall, symbolism, visual metaphor and allegory adds to the cartoonist’s goal on positioning the audience have a negative outlook on the increase of