Leslie Massey
Australia is a representative democracy where voters elect candidates to carry out the business of the government on their behalf. The country has a federal system of government, with powers distributed between a national government (the Commonwealth) and six states. The Prime Minister is the head of the federal government and is appointed by the Governor-General, who is the federal representative of the monarch of Australia. In 1975, Australia faced a constitutional crisis, which led to the removal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's reformist Labor government. This event, known as the constitutional coup, involved the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, dismissing Whitlam at the encouragement of Queen Elizabeth II, as Whitlam moved Australia towards Cold War non-alignment. The aftermath of this incident included public opprobrium for Kerr and a push for the release of his correspondence with the Queen's office.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of removal of government | 11 November 1975 |
| Prime Minister at the time | Gough Whitlam |
| Governor-General at the time | Sir John Kerr |
| Monarch at the time | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Political party of the Prime Minister | Labor Party |
| Political ideology of the Prime Minister | Left-wing, anti-imperialist, reformist, social democrat |
| Reason for removal | Whitlam's government was moving Australia towards Cold War non-alignment |
| Outcome of the removal | Constitutional crisis, public opprobrium for Kerr |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth II's involvement in the 1975 removal of Gough Whitlam
On 11 November 1975, Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was sacked by the Governor-General of Australia, John Kerr. Whitlam's dismissal is often referred to as one of the most controversial parts of Australia's political history.
Queen Elizabeth II was the head of state in Australia at the time. While there is no evidence that she directly ordered Whitlam's removal, her representatives, including Kerr, encouraged him to dissolve Whitlam's government. Kerr was a conservative pro-monarchist with longstanding ties to Anglo-American intelligence and the CIA. He regularly sought advice from the monarchy before acting and discussed the possibility of dismissing Whitlam's government with the Queen, her secretary Martin Charteris, and Prince Charles.
In a letter dated 25 November 1975, Charteris counselled Kerr on whether he should resign, stating that the decision to reinstate Whitlam or appoint Fraser was his decision alone. In response, Kerr expressed his frustration with unqualified criticism from people "unversed in constitutional law".
In 2020, classified letters between Kerr and Buckingham Palace were released, revealing that the Queen was not informed of Whitlam's dismissal in advance. However, the correspondence also showed that Kerr had spoken with Palace officials about his authority to dismiss Whitlam and that he had boasted of his strong links to the Palace.
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The role of Governor-General Sir John Kerr
Sir John Robert Kerr, AK, GCMG, GCVO, QC (24 September 1914 – 24 March 1991) was an Australian barrister and judge who served as the 18th governor-general of Australia, from 1974 to 1977. He was appointed Chief Justice of New South Wales in 1972 and Governor-General in July 1974. Kerr was the first choice of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to replace Sir Paul Hasluck as Governor-General, on the condition that he could represent Australia overseas as head of state.
Kerr is primarily known for his involvement in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, which culminated in his decision to dismiss the incumbent Prime Minister, Whitlam, and appoint Malcolm Fraser as his replacement. This led to unprecedented actions in Australian federal politics. With the two houses of Parliament deadlocked, Whitlam was able to narrowly secure passage of the six trigger bills of the earlier double dissolution election in a joint sitting of Parliament on 6–7 August 1974. Whitlam's tenure in office was highly turbulent and controversial. In October 1975, Fraser and the Opposition used their control of the Senate to defer passage of appropriation bills needed to finance government expenditure. They stated that they would continue to block supply in the Senate unless Whitlam called a fresh election for the House of Representatives. They urged Governor-General Sir John Kerr to dismiss Whitlam unless he acceded to their demand.
Kerr's major confidant and secret adviser regarding the dismissal was Sir Anthony Mason, a member of the High Court and a friend of Kerr. Mason's role included drafting a letter of dismissal for Kerr, and he also claimed to have advised Kerr that he should warn Whitlam of his intention to dismiss him, which Kerr refused to do. On 11 November 1975, Kerr dismissed Whitlam and appointed Fraser interim prime minister. Kerr's actions sparked excitement, and among Whitlam’s admirers, outrage.
Kerr resigned as governor-general on 14 July 1977. After his resignation, he still sought a government position, reasoning that it had been his intention to remain for ten years as governor-general. However, Fraser's attempt to appoint Kerr as ambassador to UNESCO provoked such public outcry that the nomination was withdrawn.
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The Opposition under Malcolm Fraser
In 1972, the Liberal-National Coalition was defeated in the election, and Malcolm Fraser unsuccessfully stood for the Liberal leadership, losing to Billy Snedden. However, when the party lost again in 1974, Fraser challenged Snedden again and became the Leader of the Opposition in March 1975.
As the Leader of the Opposition, Fraser used the Coalition's control of the Australian Senate to block supply to the Whitlam government, which had been facing a series of scandals. Fraser and the Opposition stated that they would continue to block supply unless Whitlam called for a fresh election for the House of Representatives. This led to a political deadlock that lasted several months, during which the government secretly explored methods of obtaining supply funding outside the Parliament.
Fraser's actions as the Leader of the Opposition culminated in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, where Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Whitlam as prime minister, an unprecedented occurrence in Australian history. Fraser remains the only Australian prime minister to ascend to the position upon the dismissal of his predecessor. While the correctness of Fraser's actions in the crisis has been debated, he is generally credited with restoring stability to the country after a series of short-term leaders.
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The constitutional crisis
The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, also known as "The Dismissal", culminated in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) by Sir John Kerr, the Governor-General. Kerr then appointed the Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Fraser of the Liberal Party, as Prime Minister to hold a new election.
The crisis is considered the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Australia's history. The Labor Party, under Whitlam, came to power in the 1972 election, ending 23 consecutive years of Liberal-Country Coalition government. However, Whitlam's tenure in office was highly turbulent and controversial. In October 1975, the Opposition, led by Fraser, used its control of the Senate to block supply and defer passage of appropriation bills needed to finance government expenditure. Fraser and the Opposition stated that they would continue to block supply unless Whitlam called for a fresh election for the House of Representatives. They also urged Governor-General Kerr to dismiss Whitlam unless he acceded to their demands.
Kerr's decision to dismiss Whitlam was influenced by several factors. Firstly, Whitlam and Kerr had a strained relationship, with Whitlam repeatedly castigating Kerr for his role in the crisis. Secondly, Kerr sought advice from various sources, including Sir Anthony Mason, a member of the High Court and a friend of Kerr, who played a significant role in Kerr's thinking and even drafted the letter of dismissal. Kerr also consulted with the Chief Justice of the High Court, Sir Garfield Barwick, despite Whitlam's advice against doing so. Additionally, Kerr received a briefing from senior defence officials about a CIA threat to end intelligence cooperation with Australia, and there were allegations that Whitlam had close links to the CIA.
The dismissal of Whitlam led to widespread anger towards Kerr, with demonstrations marking his appearances and ALP parliamentarians boycotting his opening of the new parliament. Whitlam, now the Leader of the Opposition, refused all invitations to events at Yarralumla. Kerr's role in the crisis also damaged his relationship with the Queen, as revealed in letters exchanged between them. Despite initially attempting to defend his actions, Kerr eventually resigned as governor-general in July 1977.
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The aftermath for Kerr
The dismissal of Prime Minister Whitlam by Sir John Kerr, the governor-general, on November 11, 1975, had a significant impact on Kerr's personal and professional life.
Kerr faced widespread criticism from Labor supporters and even former friends from the ALP, who felt that he had betrayed the party and ambushed Whitlam. Lady Kerr described how she and her husband were suddenly confronted by "instant enemies". Whitlam himself repeatedly castigated Kerr for his role in the dismissal, and the two men's relationship remained strained.
Kerr's reputation suffered greatly, and he struggled to find other positions in Australia. He resigned as governor-general in 1977, and even though he sought another government position, Fraser's attempt to appoint him as ambassador to UNESCO faced such public outcry that the nomination was withdrawn.
Kerr spent several years living in Europe, and when he died in Australia in 1991, his death was not announced until after he was buried, reflecting the ongoing sensitivity surrounding his role in the 1975 constitutional crisis.
In the years following the dismissal, Kerr also complained to Buckingham Palace about Whitlam's "malice" towards him, expressing concern that Whitlam might use an audience with the Queen to argue that Kerr had "damaged the monarchy". This episode further highlights the contentious nature of Kerr's actions and their lasting impact on his personal relationships and public image.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 1975, Australia's elected prime minister, Gough Whitlam, was removed from his position. This event is known as the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis or the 1975 constitutional coup.
The then Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, dissolved Whitlam's government. This was done at the encouragement of Queen Elizabeth II, who wished to stop Whitlam from moving Australia toward Cold War non-alignment.
Whitlam's dismissal caused a public outcry, and Kerr faced significant backlash. He resigned as governor-general in 1977 and later sought a government position, but his nomination was withdrawn due to public opposition.
The removal of Whitlam's reformist Labor government had a lasting impact on Australian politics and the nation's independence. It also led to increased support for the movement to make Australia a republic, which Whitlam himself campaigned for in the 1999 referendum.
There is no evidence of another constitutional crisis or coup in Australia's history. However, Australia has a history of working towards reconciliation with its Indigenous peoples, including a 2008 motion of Apology to Indigenous Australians for past mistreatment and injustices.
