Joanna Braithwaite McManusstan

‘I believe in the rule of law where the law is fair and the law is right, but when it’s unjust I don’t think there’s a problem with breaking it.’

So said Sally McManus when journalist Leigh Sales asked her about industrial action on ABC-TV’s 7.30 after she was elected secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in 2017.

McManus is the subject of Joanna Braithwaite’s painting, her fourth in the Archibald.

‘I wanted to paint Sally because I was impressed by her unwavering pursuit of fairness, and the way she is unafraid to fight for what she believes in – gender equality, fair pay and workers’ rights, with the focus of uniting people for the common good. So I chose a stance that I felt reflected her strength and determination,’ says Braithwaite.

‘As well as being a unionist and feminist, McManus is a black belt, a keen bird photographer and an avid sports fan. The newspaper suit was a way to depict some of the coverage she encounters regarding her work at the ACTU, as well as her interests – read all about it!’