Dismissal timeline - November 1975

Federal Parliament sits 4-6 and 11 November 1975

3 November	Leader of the Federal Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser meets Governor-General Sir John Kerr. Mr Fraser reaffirms his stand to delay Budget bills until the Government agrees to hold an election for both houses of Parliament. Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC meets with senior Government ministers. In a press statement he rejects Mr Fraser's bid to allow a passing of the Budget if a general election is called before June 30 next year. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
4 November	Governor-General Sir John Kerr receives official advise from Attorney-General Hon Kep Enderby QC and Solicitor-General Maurice Byers QC. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
5 November	The Senate rejects the House of Representatives claims of 28 October in relation to original Appropriation Bills. Resolution communicated to the House of Representatives. Appropriations Bills [No 3] introduced into the Senate. The Senate resolves not to proceed with Loan Bill [No 2] in the same terms as adopted in respect of the original Loan Bill on 15 October. Resolution communicated but not considered by the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives considers the Senate resolution of 5 November in relation to original Appropriation Bills and again denounces actions of the Senate. Resolution communicated to the Senate. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
6 November	Governor General Sir John Kerr receives an opinion on the deadlock and the constitutional position from the Solicitor General Maurice Byers QC. Leader of the Federal Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser gives a notice of motion of censure of the Government. The Senate resolves not to proceed with Appropriation Bills [No 3] in the same terms as adopted in respect of original Appropriation Bills. Resolution communicated but not considered by the House of Representatives. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
10 November	Chief Justice of the High Court Sir Garfield Barwick, a former Liberal Government minister, visits and advises the Governor General Sir John Kerr by letter as to his 'constitutional rights and duties'. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
11 November	See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
9:00am	Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC, Leader of the Federal Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser and their senior colleagues meet to discuss the crisis.
10:00am*	Leader of the Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser telephones Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC and informs him that Appropriation Bills will not be passed. Opposition parties meeting scheduled for this time delayed while opposition leaders continue talks. Prime Minister Whitlam telephones Governor General Sir John Kerr to make an appointment for 1pm and informs him that he would then advise a half-Senate election.
10:10am	Labor Caucus meets and endorses the Prime Minister's decision to ask the Governor General for a half Senate election.
10:30am	Opposition parties meet.
11:45am	House of Representatives meet.
11:46am	The Government allows precedence to motion the censure of the Government.
Noon	Senate meets
12:10pm	Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC, moves to amendment to censure motion, censuring Leader of the Federal Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser.
12:50pm*	Prime Minister of Australia Gough Whitlam QC arrives at Government House to advise Governor-General Sir John Kerr of a half-Senate election.
12:55pm	House of Representative sitting suspended for lunch.
1:00pm	Senate sitting suspended for lunch.
1:01pm*	Governor-General Sir John Kerr determines Hon Gough Whitlam QC's commission as Prime Minister of Australia.
1:10pm	Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismisses Hon Gough Whitlam QC from office.
1:30pm	Governor-General Sir John Kerr appoints Malcolm Fraser 'caretaker' Prime Minister on condition he advises dissolution of both House of Parliament.
2:00pm	House and Senate reconvene after lunch.
2:05pm*	Government House issues press release announcing Prime Minister Whitlam has been dismissed.
2:23pm	Senate passes Appropriation Bills (Nos 1 and 2) 1975-76
2:24pm	Senate adjourned - suspended until ringing of the bells
2:33pm	Hon Gough Whitlam QC amendment to censure motion agreed to by the House of Representatives.
2:34pm	Malcolm Fraser informs the House of Representatives that the Governor General Sir John Kerr has commissioned him to form a Government. Mr Fraser unsuccessfully moves adjournment of the House of Representatives.
2:49pm	Standing orders suspended to enable Hon Gough Whitlam QC to move a motion without notice forthwith.
3:01pm	Hon Gough Whitlam QC moves motion expressing want of confidence in Prime Minister Fraser and requests Speaker Scholes forthwith to advise the Governor General Sir John Kerr to call Mr Whitlam to form a Government. Speaker Scholes states he would convey the resolution of the House of Representatives to the Governor General at the first opportunity. Kerr gives Scholes appointment for 4:45pm.
3:15pm	Messages from the Senate report returning Appropriation Bills without amendments or requests. House of Representatives sitting suspended.
3:40pm*	Malcolm Fraser, together with Secretary of Attorney-General Department Clarrie Harders, meet Governor General Sir John Kerr and advise that the Appropriation Bills have been passed and were being presented to him for royal assent, and recommended that the Governor General dissolve both Houses.
3:50pm*	Appropriation Bills arrive at Government House and assented to by Governor General Sir John Kerr.
4:30pm*	Governor General Sir John Kerr dissolves both Houses who do not resume sitting.
4:35pm*	Speaker Scholes arrives early at gates of Government House and kept waiting.
4:40pm*	Speaker Scholes meets with Governor General Sir John Kerr.
4:45pm	The Governor General's official secretary David Smith proclaims double dissolution on the steps of Parliament House. The dismissal sparks outcry across the nation. Rallies and protests last throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Mr Whitlam calls for calm and respect for Australian democracy.
12 November	'Caretaker' Ministry sworn in. Malcolm Fraser provides Governor-General Sir John Kerr with a formal opinion of the Solicitor-General in respect of 21 bills that satisfy requirements of section 57 of the Constitution. Speaker Scholes communicates the House of Representatives resolution of 11 November to the Queen requesting her to intervene and restore Mr Whitlam to office. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
17 November	Writs for election issued with exception of South Australia and Western Australia Senate elections. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
18 November	Chief Justice's advise of 10 November published. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
21 November	Writs for South Australian and Western Australian Senate elections issued. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
24 November	Reply of Queen's Private Secretary at the request of Her Majesty, to Speaker Scholes' letter, dated 17 November received by Speaker. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
	* Denotes approximate time

Glossary

Appropriation Bills - Are bills, when passed, which authorise the expenditure of public money.

Constitutional rights and duties - The Governor General's rights and duties are varied and far-reaching and include issuing writs for elections, commissiong Prime Minister's and ministers, appointing Federal judges, establishing royal commissions of inquiry and giving assent to laws passed through both houses of parliament. More on the Governor General.

Double dissolution - A term used for the action of ending a Parliament of a House of Parliament. Under the Constitution only the Governor-General has the power to take such action. By convention the Governor-General takes this action only on the advice of the Prime Minister of the day. Section 57 of the Constitution sets out the steps for resolving a disagreement involving a proposed law originating in the House. The procedure does not apply to a bill originating in the Senate.

Half Senate elections - In order to strength the Senate as a reviewing house, the Constitution provides that the Senate should have a continuing, but rotating membership. Senators are elected for six year terms, with half of them elected every three years. A six year terms for Senators provides Senators with a greater degree of independence from electoral pressures than is possible for Members of the House of Representatives who go to the polls every three years. With the exception of an election of the whole Senate following a simultaneous dissolution of both Houses, Senators retire in rotation, half on 30 June each third year.

Motion of censure - A Motion of No Confidence is a parliamentary motion traditionally put before a Parliament by the Opposition in the hope of defeating or embarrassing a government. The motion is passed or rejected by means of a parliamentary vote.

Royal assent - When a Bill has been passed by Parliament, copies of the Bill bearing a certificate from the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President of the Senate are given to the Governor-General by the House of introduction. The Office of Parliamentary Counsel prepares a certificate for the Attorney-General's signature. When the certificate is signed by the Attorney-General it is sent to the Governor-General. The Governor-General then gives the Royal Assent to the Bill by signing 2 copies of the Bill.

Writs for election - The official trigger for the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct an election. Writs must be issued within 10 days of the dissolution or expiry of the House of Representatives.