The Wire

Cartoonist Bill Leak shocked many when The Australian published his cartoon depicting an Aboriginal father, beer can in hand, not able to recognise his son when confronted by a police officer.

Mr Leak and The Australian defended the cartoon saying it was an attempt to raise the “core issue” of the breakdown of families in some remote Aboriginal communities.

Many are questioning a possible defamation case, which is seemingly unlikely under section 18D of Australia’s defamation laws.