Leak started out as an art teacher, but he slowly started drawing cartoons for local newspapers, mainly the Adelaide Advertiser. He joined the Sydney Morning Herald in 1984 and soon became a household name for his cartoons, which were critical of left-leaning ideologies and political correctness.
During his career, Leak received numerous awards, including nine Walkley Awards, the highest journalistic honor in Australia. However, his cartoons were also heavily criticized, particularly when he drew something that offended a certain group.
Leak’s most famous cartoon is probably the one he did in 2016, which depicted an Aboriginal father holding a beer can and unable to remember his son’s name. The cartoon was meant to highlight the issue of child abuse and neglect in indigenous communities, but it was heavily criticized for perpetuating negative stereotypes.
The cartoon sparked nationwide protests, with many calling for Leak to be fired from his job. However, other supporters of the cartoonist defended his right to freedom of expression, arguing that his cartoon was not meant to offend but to provoke a debate about a serious social issue.
Leak passed away on March 10, 2017, aged 61. His death caused an outpouring of grief and support, with many praising him for his contributions to journalism and politics. However, the controversy that had surrounded his career did not end with his death.
In 2017, the Human Rights Commission of Australia launched an investigation into Leak’s cartoons, particularly the one from 2016. The investigation was aimed at determining if the cartoon violated Australia’s racial discrimination laws.
Leak’s supporters argued that the investigation was a threat to freedom of expression, while others argued that the cartoon was blatantly racist and offensive. The investigation was ultimately dropped, but it left a bitter taste for many who believed that Leak had been unfairly targeted.
Throughout his career, Leak remained unrepentant about his controversial cartoons. He argued that he was just doing his job as a cartoonist, which was to provoke debate and push boundaries. He also believed that political correctness had gone too far in Australia, and that his cartoons helped to expose the absurdities of certain ideologies and movements.
The Hun’s legacy lives on until today, and his cartoons continue to be a point of debate and controversy. Some people see him as a hero for his boldness and willingness to challenge the status quo, while others see him as a racist and a bigot.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is clear: The Hun was a powerful and influential voice in Australian politics and media, and his cartoons will be remembered for a long time to come.