What was the 1975 Dismissal?
The 1975 Dismissal was the removal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam by Governor-General Sir John Kerr on 11 November 1975. It is considered the greatest constitutional crisis in Australian history.
Whitlam's Labor government had been elected in 1972, but it faced controversy over a loans affair and economic problems. The opposition, led by Malcolm Fraser, controlled the Senate.
In October 1975, the Senate refused to pass the government's budget bills, known as supply. Without supply, the government would eventually run out of money.
The dismissal
On 11 November, Kerr dismissed Whitlam and appointed Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister on the condition that he call an election. Whitlam addressed a crowd outside Parliament House, famously saying that nothing would save the Governor-General.
At the election held in December 1975, Fraser's Coalition won a large majority.
The dismissal remains controversial. Some argue Kerr acted within his powers, while others believe he should not have used the reserve powers. Letters between Kerr and Buckingham Palace, released in 2020, provided more insight into the events.
Whitlam and Fraser later reconciled and worked together on public causes.