Axing of Michael Leunig has ‘serious ramifications’ for freedom of expression

The sacking of cartoonist Michael Leunig from The Age newspaper has “serious ramifications” for freedom of expression in the Australian media, says Digital Editor Jack Houghton.

Leunig’s cartoons have featured in The Age since 1969, but he was recently axed from the newspaper’s Monday editorial page after one of his cartoons satirised the Victorian Andrews government’s mandatory vaccination policies.

Mr Houghton noted the cartoonist has “consistently expressed views from a left of centre perspective”.

“But no matter how woke you are, they’ll come for you eventually,” he said.

“It is worth noting that although The Age has axed his cartoons from the editorial page, for some reason they have been deemed still appropriate for its weekly Spectrum section.

“But here is the worst thing about this entire saga: after decades and decades of service to a news organisation, the moment he doesn't toe the editorial line, he's ousted through a phone call.”