The secretary of the Governor-General, David Smith, announcing the dissolution of Parliament on November 11th, 1975. Gough Whitlam, the sacked Prime Minister, stands behind the secretary directly to his right while the address is being made.

The Australian constitutional crisis of 1975 refers to the events that culminated with the removal by Governor-General Sir John Kerr of Australia's then-Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam and appointing Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister. It has been described as the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Australia's history.^[1] Image File history File linksMetadata Goughwhitlamdissolved. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Goughwhitlamdissolved. ... Sir David Smith KCVO, AO was the official secretary to the Governor-General of Australia between 1973 and 1990. ... Michael Jeffery, the current Governor-General of Australia The Governor-General of Australia is the representative in Australia of Australias head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, who lives in the United Kingdom. ... The Rt Hon. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC (born 11 July 1916), known as Gough Whitlam (, pronounced Goff), Australian politician and 21st Prime Minister of Australia. ... 1 Note that Gough Whitlam refused to use the title Leader of the Opposition between the dismissal of his government in November 1975 and the first meeting of the new parliament in February 1976. ... This article is about the former Prime Minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor). ... Look up caretaker in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Politics is the process by which individuals or relatively small groups attempt to exert influence over the actions of an organization. ... A constitutional crisis is a severe breakdown in the smooth operation of government. ... The history of Australia began when people first migrated to the Australian continent from the north, at least 40,000-45,000 years ago. ...

The crisis began in the upper house of the Australian Federal Parliament, the Senate, where the opposition Liberal-National Country Party coalition had a majority. The Senate deferred voting on bills that appropriated funds for government expenditure, attempting to force the Prime Minister to call an election. The action was unprecedented in Australian history and never since been reattempted. The Whitlam Government simultaneously dismissed the calls and attempted to pressure Liberal Senators to support the bills while also exploring alternative means to fund government expenditure. The impasse extended into weeks, the threat of the government failing to meet its financial obligations being ever present. An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. ... Parliament House Canberra: The main entrance and the flag The Parliament of Australia is the legislative branch of Australia. ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ... Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ... The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian liberal conservative political party. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... The Coalition in Australian politics refers to the grouping of two political parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922, with only brief breaks (e. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ...

On 11 November 1975, the Governor-General dismissed Whitlam as Prime Minister and appointed his Liberal opponent Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister; coalition Senators then approved the appropriations bills and Fraser subsequently called an election which saw the coalition win a majority in the House of Representatives, thus resolving the crisis. November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... This article is about the former Prime Minister of Australia; for the Western Australian public servant, see Malcolm Fraser (surveyor). ... The word caretaker may have numerous meanings, but the most common two are (1) a person or persons who cares for a property in exchange for rent-free living accommodations and (2) temporary government which takes control until a stable rule can be restored. ... Australian House of Representatives chamber Entrance to the House of Representatives The Australian House of Representatives is one of the two houses (chambers) of the Parliament of Australia. ...

Background

The Whitlam government, which was elected in 1972 after decades of conservative rule, had pioneered several social reforms immediately after gaining office. These included the creation of the Medibank universal health care system (later renamed Medicare), the introduction of no-fault divorce legislation, and the abolition of fees for tertiary education. These reforms initially made the Whitlam government popular. However, the electorate soon became wary of the breakneck pace of reform and Whitlam's "crash through or crash" style of governance. Inexperienced and erratic Ministers made several gaffes. Relations with bodies such as the public service - particularly the Treasury and the trade union movement - were often tense. The economy was beset by stagflation. Within this context, the government came under increasing attack. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Universal health care is a health care system in which all residents of a geographic or political entity have their health care paid for, regardless of medical condition or financial status. ... Medicare is Australias publicly-funded, universal health scheme, providing affordable treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all citizens and permanent residents except for those on Norfolk Island. ... No-fault divorce is the dissolution of a marriage, upon petition to the court by either party, without the requirement that the petitioner show fault on the part of the other party. ... Students attend a lecture at a tertiary institution. ... A civil servant or public servant is a civilian career public sector employee working for a government department or agency. ... The term treasury was first used in classical times to describe the votive buildings erected to house gifts to the gods, such as the Siphnian Treasury in Delphi or the many buildings put up in Olympia, Greece by competing city-states, to impress each other during the Ancient Olympic Games. ... A Trade Union (Labour union) ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... Stagflation is a term in macroeconomics used to describe a period characteristic of high inflation combined with economic stagnation, unemployment, or economic recession. ...

In 1974, Whitlam called a double dissolution in an effort to gain a government majority in the Senate. Whitlam failed to gain a majority. However, after the election, bills which had been rejected three times by the Senate in the previous parliament were able to be put to a historic joint sitting of both houses of parliament. This ensured such social reforms as Medibank were able to be instituted. By 1975 the government had become scandal-plagued and unpopular in the electorate. Desperate to raise revenue, a number of Ministers sought finance through unorthodox channels, triggering what became known as the Loans Affair. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... A how-to-vote card from the Australian federal election of 2004, showing voters how to fill in the squares on the ballot paper if they wish to vote for the Liberal Party of Australia. ... A joint sitting of the Australian parliament was convened in August 1974, comprising members of both the Senate and House of Representatives. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The Loans Affair is the name given to the political scandal involving the Whitlam Government of Australia, in its second term, in May 1974, in which, it was accused of attempting to illegally borrow money from Middle-Eastern countries by by-passing standard procedure as dictated by the Australian Treasury. ...

The crisis was triggered by two casual vacancies in the senate arising. These were caused by the appointment of one sitting Labor Senator, Lionel Murphy, as a judge on 9 February and the sudden death of Senator Bert Milliner on 30 June. It fell on two non-Labor State premiers to choose their replacements, Tom Lewis of New South Wales and Joh Bjelke-Petersen of Queensland. Both chose candidates who opposed the Whitlam government. On 27 February, Lewis appointed replacement Senator Cleaver Bunton from New South Wales. Bunton was independent and not a member of any political party. On 3 September, Bjelke-Petersen refused the Labor Party's candidate as replacement Senator, Mal Colston. Bjelke-Peterson had been presented only with Mal Colston, when he had requested multiple candidates from which to choose. Bjelke-Peterson chose to appoint obscure french-polisher Albert Patrick Field. Field was a Labor Party member but openly critical of the Whitlam government. Hon Lionel Murphy Lionel Keith Murphy (30 August 1922 - 21 October 1986), Australian politician, was Attorney-General in the Government of Gough Whitlam, and a Justice of the High Court of Australia. ... Various people share the name Tom Lewis: Tom Lewis the Canadian folksinger/songwriter Tom Lewis the British obstetrican This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen Sir Johannes Bjelke-Petersen, (13 January 1911 – 23 April 2005), New Zealand-born Australian politician, was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of the state of Queensland. ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Cleaver Bunton (5 May 1902 - 20 January 1999) was a long serving public official in Albury, New South Wales who shot to prominence in 1975 when he was controversially appointed to the Australian Senate. ... Dr Malcolm Arthur Colston (1938 – 2003), Australian politician, was a Senator in the Parliament of Australia representing the state of Queensland between 13 December 1975 and 30 June 1999. ... Dr Malcolm Arthur Colston (1938 – 2003), Australian politician, was a Senator in the Parliament of Australia representing the state of Queensland between 13 December 1975 and 30 June 1999. ... French Polishing is a wood finishing technique (and not a substance, as commonly assumed) for wooden furniture that results in a very high gloss, deep colour and tough surface. ... Albert Patrick Field (1910 - 1 July [1990]]) Senator from Queensland who appointment was instrumental in precipitating the Australian constitutional crisis of 1975, known as The Dismissal. ...

The action by both Premiers went against a previously unbroken convention under which a Senator who dies or resigns mid-term is replaced with a nominee from the former Senator's political party.

Field's appointment came under challenge in the High Court. Field was on leave from the Senate, unable to exercise a vote, for the period of the crisis. The number of nominally Labor Senators was thus reduced. However, the Liberal-Country opposition would not provide a "pair". A pair is an informal but well-established tradition whereby whenever a sitting member or Senator is through circumstances outside their control unable to attend and vote, the opposite party reduces its own numbers accordingly by having one of their own members abstain from the vote. Pairing is a system whereby two members of parliament from opposing political parties may agree to abstain where one member is unable to vote, due to other commitments, illness, travel problems, etc. ...

Quoting financial mismanagement, the Opposition refused to vote on the passage of the government's budget through the Senate. They considered that having lost the support of Parliament, the Prime Minister was obliged to resign and to advise the Governor-General to call an election.

The Liberals defended their action in blocking supply by arguing that Whitlam himself had openly flouted conventions. The 'Loans Affair' (among other issues), in their opinion, justified their use of any legal means, however unconventional, to force what they saw as a reckless and incompetent government out of office. The Liberals moreover claimed (rightly, according to opinion polls) that the electorate had tired of the Whitlam government and wished to vote it out, and thus forcing the government to call an election was justifiable.^{[citation needed]} Loss of Supply occurs where a government in a parliamentary democracy is by parliamentary vote denied a supply of treasury or exchequer funds, by whichever house or houses of parliament is constitutionally entitled to grant and deny supply. ... The Loans Affair is the name given to the political scandal involving the Whitlam Government of Australia, in its second term, in May 1974, in which, it was accused of attempting to illegally borrow money from Middle-Eastern countries by by-passing standard procedure as dictated by the Australian Treasury. ... Opinion polls are surveys of opinion using sampling. ...

Whitlam on the other hand had a low regard for the status of the Senate. It had been long-standing Labor policy (implemented in Queensland) to abolish upper houses as anti-democratic. He adamantly insisted that the upper house had no power to dictate terms for the election of the directly-elected lower house. The lower house, the 'house of the people', was more democratic and representative than 'the house of the states' and thus, in a modern democracy, had to be supreme. Whitlam emphasised the long-established principle of the Westminster system that as long as a government has a majority in the lower house it is entitled to stay in office and serve its full term. Paul Kelly, in his book November 1975, stated that Whitlam viewed the crisis as a chance not only to force Fraser into a humiliating back-down, but also to permanently and definitively establish the supremacy of the lower house. Paul Kelly is a well-known Australian political journalist and historian. ...

Public opinion during the crisis months of October and November was mixed. The Whitlam government remained unpopular largely because of economic problems but also because of the scandals; however, opinion polls showed that, as the deadlock wore on, a growing majority blamed the Opposition for the crisis and wanted it to pass the budget bills.

The Dismissal

The situation was complicated by the relationship between Kerr and Whitlam. Kerr had long felt that he had been taken for granted and not given the respect due to his office. Originally a Labor sympathiser with ambitions to gain parliamentary office earlier in his life, Kerr had started to drift towards the conservatives and felt isolated from the Government.^{[citation needed]}

Constitutional precedent had long established that the Governor-General was expected only to act on advice received from the Prime Minister, and Whitlam confidently assumed this would be the case during the crisis. However, according to the Australian Constitution, and in accordance with established practice in other Westminster style constitutional monarchies, the Governor-General as the representative of the Crown still possessed wide ranging reserve powers to dissolve parliament and sack the government on his own initiative, in certain limited circumstances. This power though had not been carried out by any monarch since King William IV. It would later become apparent that Kerr and Whitlam were at odds over whether the Governor-General had the power to act independently in times of crisis. Kerr had a much more pro-active interpretation of the office's role than any of his predecessors. The Whitlam Labor Government assumed he would take no action unless prompted. As the government money threatened to run out Kerr came under increasing pressure from the Liberals, who insisted that constitutionally, a Prime Minister who could not obtain supply must either resign or be dismissed. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (in full, An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia) is the primary constitutional text of the Commonwealth of Australia. ... The Houses of Parliament in London The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the United Kingdom system, as used in the Palace of Westminster, the location of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Crown is a term which is used to separate the government authority and property of the state in a kingdom from any personal influence and private assets held by the current Monarch. ... A reserve power is a power that may be exercised by the head of state of a country in certain exceptional circumstances. ... William IV may refer to the following monarchs: King William IV of the United Kingdom (reigned 1830-1837) Stadtholder William IV of The Netherlands, Prince of Orange, (1711–1751) When Prince William-Alexander , son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, takes the throne he may do so under this regnal...

A precedent had been set in Australia for the use of the reserve powers at a state level in the dismissal of New South Wales Premier Jack Lang by Sir Philip Game - but in this situation Game had warned Lang that his dismissal was imminent. Kerr was unwilling to warn Whitlam that he was contemplating dismissing him, fearing that Whitlam's reaction would be to request Elizabeth II, the Queen of Australia, to remove him as Governor-General instead. Though this might appear to be an unlikely proposition, it was constitutionally possible, and in the peculiar circumstances of the crisis could not have been ruled out. Senior state Governor at the time, Sir Roden Cutler, Governor of New South Wales, gave Kerr the advice that he should warn the Prime Minister of his actions. Kerr refused to take such advice. Kerr subsequently claimed that he was not so much fearful of the loss of his own position but of the prospect that the monarch could become involved in Australian domestic politics, doing severe damage to her constitutional status. This idea however has since been ridiculed openly by Sir William Heseltine, then Private Secretary to The Queen. Kerr was also mindful of threats from Fraser that the Opposition would begin publicly criticising him unless he "did his duty". Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... List of Premiers of New South Wales Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in New South Wales. ... Jack Lang John Thomas Lang (December 21, 1876 - September 27, 1975), Australian politician, usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, familiarly known as Jack and nicknamed The Big Fella, was Premier of New South Wales for two terms. ... Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Woolcott Game (March 30, 1876–February 4, 1961) was a British Royal Air Force commander and Governor of New South Wales, Australia. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of 16 sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, in 1952 and 2002 The title Queen of Australia has existed since 1973, when the Parliament of Australia passed the Royal Style and Titles Act (1973). ...

The front page of the Melbourne Age newspaper

This prompted Kerr to seek advice from the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Garfield Barwick. Before appointment to the High Court bench, Barwick had been a Minister in successive Liberal-Country party governments and was therefore seen as hardly impartial. This action was criticised after the event by Whitlam on two grounds: firstly, since the High Court does not issue advisory opinions, Barwick was not speaking with constitutional authority but only as an individual, and secondly, Barwick was in fact a former Attorney-General in a Liberal Party government. Whitlam as Prime Minister had specifically instructed Kerr as Governor-General not to seek Barwick's advice. Kerr maintained that he did what was necessary to resolve the crisis. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (524x700, 114 KB) Summary Front Cover of the Age November 11 1975 Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (524x700, 114 KB) Summary Front Cover of the Age November 11 1975 Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Age is a broadsheet daily newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. ... The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth- or other countries with an Anglosaxon type of justice, such as the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of New Zealand, the Supreme... High Court entrance The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal in Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy. ... Sir Garfield Edward John Barwick, AK GCMG, PC (22 June 1903 - 14 July 1997) was the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General or Attorney-General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ...

Kerr also met with Fraser. Fraser argued that the Senate represented the displeasure of the Australian people with the government's management; that there was a practical impasse for the government; and, stressing the necessity for action well before government revenue dried up, that if the Governor-General did not act decisively then the Prime Minister could without notice dismiss the Governor-General and maintain the deadlock indefinitely.

On the morning of November 11, 1975, Whitlam was summoned by the Governor-General to Government House at Yarralumla. The Prime Minister arrived without the knowledge that Fraser had also been summoned but had arrived earlier. Whitlam also carried with him a letter officially requesting official approval for a half-Senate election in order to break the deadlock but his request was pre-empted by Kerr^[2]. Stating that there was no prospect of the crisis being resolved otherwise, Kerr dismissed Prime Minister Whitlam and appointed Malcolm Fraser as the caretaker Prime Minister, on the basis that Fraser had promised to pass supply, then to immediately advise the Governor-General to dissolve parliament and call a double dissolution election. Fraser instructed his Senators to pass the budget and gave Kerr the advice to call a double dissolution election for December 13, 1975. The Liberal and National Country Party Senators voted to pass the Supply bills, along with the Labor Senators. However the Labor Senators were largely not yet aware that Whitlam and his government had been dismissed (because Whitlam, plotting to defeat Fraser on the floor of the House of Representatives, had omitted to tell them). In any case it would have been useless for the Labor Senators to vote against supply — all through October and November two independents, Lewis's appointment Cleaver Bunton and Steele Hall, a former Liberal Party but now Liberal Movement Senator from South Australia, had supported the Labor Party — the motions for deferring the Budget bills were passed by 30-29 — an outcome which would have been 31-27 in favour of passing the Budget bills had the Labor Senators tried to reject them on November 11th. Kerr ignored two immediate motions of no confidence in Fraser from the House of Representatives as by the time he received them Parliament had already been dissolved by proclamation. November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... This is a disambiguation page; if one followed a link here, one might want to adjust that link. ... The word caretaker may have numerous meanings, but the most common two are (1) a person or persons who cares for a property in exchange for rent-free living accommodations and (2) temporary government which takes control until a stable rule can be restored. ... A how-to-vote card from the Australian federal election of 2004, showing voters how to fill in the squares on the ballot paper if they wish to vote for the Liberal Party of Australia. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Cleaver Bunton (5 May 1902 - 20 January 1999) was a long serving public official in Albury, New South Wales who shot to prominence in 1975 when he was controversially appointed to the Australian Senate. ... Raymond Steele Hall was Premier of South Australia from 1968 to 1970, Senator for South Australia from 1975 to 1977 and federal member for Boothby constituency from 1981 to 1996. ... The Liberal Movement was a minor Australian political party that flourished in the 1970s. ... Emblems: Hairy Nosed Wombat (faunal); Leafy Seadragon (marine); Piping Shrike (bird: unofficial); Sturts Desert Pea (floral); Opal (gemstone) Motto: United for the Common Wealth Slogan or Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Const. ... A Motion of No Confidence, also called Motion of Non Confidence is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a parliament by the opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. ...

Upon the steps of Parliament House, Whitlam proclaimed to the assembled press and onlookers: The original parliament house of Australia, now referred to as Old Parliament House, or OPH, served as the official Parliament House of the Commonwealth of Australia from 1927 to 1988. ...

Well may we say "God save the Queen" because nothing will save the Governor General. . . . The proclamation you have just heard read was countersigned Malcolm Fraser, who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr's Cur.

Role of the United States government

A small minority of commentators believe the United States was involved.

Following the end of the Second World War, the influence of British institutions on Australian public institutions weakened, while the influence of United States public institutions increased. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

The actions taken by the Whitlam government were generally left-wing policies relative to those desired by government and business in the United States, and relations between Gough Whitlam and the United States became tense during 1975, especially after Whitlam publicly declared that Richard Stallings was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative and that he had been in charge of the Pine Gap satellite tracking and communication base near Alice Springs. According to Tony Douglas, ^[3] In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Richard H. Stallings Richard Howard Stallings (born October 7, 1940 in Ogden, Utah) is a Pocatello, Idaho, city councilman and chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party. ... The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Government. ... Warning sign on the road to Pine Gap. ... Satellite navigation systems allow small electronic devices to determine their location (Longitude, Latitude, and Altitude) in within a few metres using time signals transmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites. ... U.S. military MILSTAR communications satellite A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to comsat) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purposes of telecommunications using radio at microwave frequencies. ... Alice Springs on a large scale map Alice Springs is a large town in the Northern Territory of Australia located at 23°42′ S 133°52′ E. Its population of 28,178 (2001 Census) makes it the second-largest settlement in the Territory (the only other towns of...

A cable from a senior CIA official and Task Force 157 member, Ted Shackley, on November 10 accused Whitlam of being a security risk and asked ASIO to do something about it. The Head of the Defence Department, Arthur Thang, described him as "the greatest risk to our nation's security that there has ever been."

Christopher Boyce, convicted of spying for the Soviet Union, has claimed that the CIA wanted Whitlam removed from office because he wanted to close United States military bases in Australia, including Pine Gap, ^{[4] [5]} withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam, and had begun making diplomatic overtures to China, as President Nixon had previously done. Boyce said that the US government considered that "Mr. Whitlam's Government was a threat" because of Whitlam's interest in US security operations on Australian territory.^[5] The official crest of ASIO The ASIO logo The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is the domestic security agency of Australia which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage (especially sabotage of critical infrastructure), politically motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system... Christopher John Boyce was an American citizen who was arrested in 1979 for selling US spy satellite secrets to the Soviet Union. ... Spy and secret agent redirect here; for alternate use, see Spy (disambiguation) and Secret agent (disambiguation). ... Warning sign on the road to Pine Gap. ...

Boyce also claimed that at least one CIA agent referred to Sir John Kerr as our man Kerr. Kerr had earlier been a member of the executive board of the CIA front organisation, the Australian Association for Cultural Freedom.^[5] Sir John Kerr Alternative meanings: John Kerr (disambiguation). ... The Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF)) was an anti-communist advocacy group founded in 1950. ...

Claims were made by Tony Douglas, although no significant evidence was produced, that the dismissal happened just hours before Whitlam planned to reveal secret information about the nature of the CIA communications facility at Pine Gap in Parliament.^[3] Warning sign on the road to Pine Gap. ...

Few people consider the United States government pressure to have been a significant factor in the dismissal of Whitlam by the governor general Sir John Kerr, and mainstream historians generally do not even mention it.^[1] Whitlam himself appointed Kerr as Governor-General, the Liberals blocked supply, and the Australian public had the opportunity to vote Whitlam back in immediately after the dismissal. None of these factors were felt to have been able to be controlled by a foreign power. Sir John Kerr Alternative meanings: John Kerr (disambiguation). ...

See also: CIA sponsored regime change

The CIA was actively involved in promoting US interests abroad by overthrowing regimes that were deemed unfriendly. ...

Aftermath

ALP Policy launch before a huge crowd in the Sydney Domain on 24 November 1975

In the ensuing federal election, the ALP's campaign focused entirely on the illegitimacy of the dismissal (with the slogan of "Shame Fraser, Shame"), while the Coalition focused on Labor's economic management shortcomings. Although some people expected a major backlash against Fraser in favour of Whitlam (who had launched his campaign by calling upon his supporters to "maintain your rage"), based on the fact that opinion polls in October and early November had shown most voters tended to blame Fraser for causing the crisis and to disagree with his tactics, once an election was called the majority of people focused on the economy and accepted the Liberals' line that a change of government was necessary to "turn on the lights" (the Liberal election slogan). Despite the passion of die-hard Labor supporters, furious at what they saw as an Establishment plot to destroy unconstitutionally a Labor government, the ALP suffered its greatest ever loss (losing 7.4% of its previous vote at the 1974 election) against Fraser's Coalition. This might be seen as a popular endorsement of Kerr's actions. However Kerr became a reviled figure among ALP supporters, was never again received anywhere in Australia without protest, and resigned from office in December 1977. Fraser appointed Kerr to the diplomatic post of Australian ambassador to UNESCO, but public protest was so strong that Kerr never took up the position. After his resignation, he mostly lived in self-imposed exile in Surrey. The Sydney Domain on 24 November 1975, at the ALP policy launch for the election precipitated by the 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis. ... The Sydney Domain on 24 November 1975, at the ALP policy launch for the election precipitated by the 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis. ... The Domain is a large open space in Sydney, Australia, immediately east of the central business district. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ...

Legacy

The crisis is significant in analysing Westminster systems for the large number of conventions that were involved. Constitutional texts cannot cover every conceivable reality, and the political process almost always relies to some extent on custom and convention in operation. The Australian Constitution, drafted by those steeped in the British tradition of an unwritten constitution, relies on established unwritten customs to determine and guide the application of what appears in the Constitutional text. Some have seen expressed in the 1975 crisis a fundamental contradiction deriving from the Australian Constitution's melding of the principles of the Westminster system, with a dominant lower house that determines the government, and United States-style federalism, with a "state's chamber" (the Senate) with powers very nearly equal to those of the House of Representatives. The Houses of Parliament in London The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the United Kingdom system, as used in the Palace of Westminster, the location of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (in full, An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia) is the primary constitutional text of the Commonwealth of Australia. ... The Constitution of the United Kingdom is an area of uncodified law, consisting of both written and unwritten sources. ... For the entry on the naval ship U.S.S. Constitution, see: USS Constitution. ... The Houses of Parliament in London The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the United Kingdom system, as used in the Palace of Westminster, the location of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. ... At the core, political federalism is a political philosophy in which a group or body of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. ...

The Australian crisis illustrates how unwritten conventions can operate flexibly during a crisis. It has been used as an argument for the codification of the reserve powers within the Constitution. This view is not accepted by many prominent Australian constitutional scholars, who argue that the flexibility is needed, and would be lost in codification. It is argued that in a system where the Houses have equal power, a head of state with wide reserve powers is required to serve as umpire. Codification of powers essentially eliminates the vice-regal ability to use discretion in their exercise, and these scholars argue this discretion is necessary in order to resolve unforeseen difficulties. A reserve power is a power that may be exercised by the head of state of a country in certain exceptional circumstances. ...

Although the crisis was described as Australia's most dramatic political event since Federation in 1901, it caused no disruption in the services of government; it saw the parties remaining committed to the political and constitutional process by contesting the subsequent election and accepting the result. Further, in some of Whitlam's reflections of this period in the following years, he himself often referred to it as a "political" crisis, rather than a "constitutional" crisis. In either case, the crisis did precipitate one constitutional change, passed by referendum in 1977, that effectively requires that State Governments fill Senate vacancies with a member of the Party of the original holder of the seat. The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia federated on 1 January 1901, to form the Commonwealth of Australia, of which they became component states. ... The referendum of the 21st May, 1977 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution concerning the filling of casual vacancies in the Senate. ...

In the years afterwards, some Australian republicans have used the crisis as an argument for change, on the basis that Australia's current constitution is flawed over (a) the powers of the Upper House with regard to supply and (b) the lack of security of tenure of the Governor-General in dealing with a crisis. No attempts to constitutionally deny the Senate the power to block supply have been put to referendum, despite multiple changes of government since 1975. Strictly the crisis could have occurred whether Australia was a republic or a constitutional monarchy, since the structural causes of the crisis were the basically equal powers of the two Houses of Parliament and the Governor-General's ability to invoke reserve powers - powers which would be transferred to the elected President under most models for an Australian republic. Whether and in what form these reserve powers would exist under any potential future republic is an as yet undecided issue. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Ballots of the Argentine plebiscite of 1984 on the border treaty with Chile A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state or country that is led by people whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A reserve power is a power that may be exercised by the head of state of a country in certain exceptional circumstances. ...

Prior to the constitutional referendum of 1988, the convention responsible for deciding on which amendments would be put to a popular vote rejected a proposal to introduce an amendment to strip the Senate's power to block supply. The 1988 Australian Referendum was held on 3 September 1988. ...

The question of whether the Senate could ever block supply again remains uncertain. For most of the time from 1980 to 2004, the balance of power in the Australian Senate was held by the Australian Democrats who disavowed ever blocking supply to a government, thus reducing the question's urgency. At the 2004 elections the Liberal/National Coalition government won control of the Senate in its own right. With the Coalition now holding 19 of the 36 seats which will not be up for re-election, this leaves open the possibility of the Coalition controlling the Senate in opposition if they were to narrowly lose the next election, due in 2007. The Australian Democrats (in regular parlance, just the Democrats), is an Australian social liberal party formed in 1977 from the earlier Australia Party by Don Chipp, who left the Liberal Party of Australia to do so. ... Legislative elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ...

Fraser and Whitlam have not kept up any enmity and are reconciled to the point where they have, on occasion, spoken jointly on political issues such as the referendum of 1999 as to whether Australia should become a republic. ...

Journalist Paul Kelly has produced a series of books generally regarded as forming the most comprehensive account of the crisis. His most recent is entitled November 1975. While Kelly criticises both Fraser and Whitlam heavily, and points out the flaws in the Australian constitutional system that made it possible, he ultimately shifts the majority of the blame on Kerr for doing little to encourage a negotiated solution to the crisis. Paul Kelly is a well-known Australian political journalist and historian. ...

A dramatised version of events exists in the form of a television mini series, The Dismissal, screened in 1983. Amongst those with directing credits are George Miller and Phillip Noyce, with cinematography by Dean Semler. The Dismissal was a Australian television mini series, broadcast in 1993 by Network Ten. ... George Miller (born March 3, 1945) is an Australian film and television screenwriter, film director and producer. ... Phillip Noyce (born on 29 April 1950 in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian film director. ...

See also

There are several parallels with the 1926 King-Byng Affair, a Canadian constitutional crisis in which the Canadian Governor General had a significant precipitating role. Mackenzie King requested a dissolution of Parliament The King-Byng Affair was a 1926 Canadian constitutional crisis that occurred when the Governor General of Canada, Lord Byng of Vimy, refused a request by the Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, to dissolve parliament and call a general election. ...

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b} ozpolitics.info. The Dismissal. Retrieved on 12 August 2006.
2. ^ Shaw, Meaghan (2005-11-05). 'Nothing will save the governor-general'. The Age.
3. ^ ^{a b} The CIA in Australia, Part 3. Public Radio News Services (October-November 1986). Retrieved on 2006-9-24.
4. ^ Staples, Peter (November 20, 1986). Australian House of Representatives November 20, 1986, Grievance Debate. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Martin, Ray (23 MAY 1982). A Spy's Story: USA Traitor Gaoled for 40 Years After Selling Codes of Rylite and Argus Projects. (Sixty Minutes transcript). 60 Minutes (Australia). Retrieved on 2006-09-24.

August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Age is a broadsheet daily newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. ... Peter Staples (born October 15, 1947 in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian politician. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... 60 Minutes premiered February 11, 1979. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ...

References

• Tony Blackshield, "Dismissal of 1975", in Blackshield, Coper and Williams, Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia (Oxford University Press, 2001) ISBN 0-19-554022-0
• Paul Kelly, November 1975 (Allen & Unwin, 1995) ISBN 1-86373-987-4

Paul Kelly is a well-known Australian political journalist and historian. ...

External links

• The Whitlam Dismissal