Date

1 April 2006

Creator

Ian Sharpe

Collection

Papers of Nick Henderson

Description

Ian Sharpe is a Canberra-based cartoonist and graphic designer, whose work featured prominently in The Canberra Times newspaper for 24 years from 1988 to 2012. This cartoon, published on 1 April 2006 by The Canberra Times comments on the intervention by then Prime Minister Howard into the governing of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to quash their attempts to pass civil union legislation. The Commonwealth used its powers under the ACT Self-Government Act, which allowed the Governor-General on the advice of the cabinet to disallow any legislation passed by the ACT legislature. The issue was not solely relating to LGBT rights, but also a question of autonomy for the territory. This original pencil, ink and watercolour cartoon comes from the Papers of Nick Henderson, which includes a small collection of ACT civil union activist material relating covering the period 2003 to 2006.