Dismissal Timeline
Dismissal of the Whitlam Government - 1975
Ladies and Gentlemen. Well may we say 'God save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General. EG Whitlam, 11 November 1975
On Tuesday November 11 1975 the Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed from office the Whitlam Government.
The Whitlam Government dismissal is the shattering conclusion to the most extraordinary political and constitutional crisis in the history of Australia's Federation. For this first time, a democratically elected Government was dissolved by the unelected vice-regal representative.
A Double Dissolution election was called by the 'caretaker' Prime Minister with Malcolm Fraser winning a majority in both Houses on Saturday December 13 1975.
The Whitlam Government dismissal was the climax of a series of political events. It is the only Government, to this day, with a majority in the House of Representatives not allowed to govern.
Losing the 1975 and 1977 elections Gough Whitlam resigned from Parliament in July 1978. His Government were responsible for implementing 507 pieces of legislation including sweeping social reforms from the end of the White Australia policy to land rights for Aborigines. The rights of minorities, a fresh focus on womens' policies and legal reform were articulated forcefully.
Many of the community reform agendas in public policy today operate on foundations laid in the Whitlam era.
