Dismissal timeline - October 1975

Federal Parliament sits 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30 October 1975

1 October	Independent Senator Steele Hall circulates a letter saying the Leader of the Federal Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser will destroy his leadership and the stability of Australian politics if he rejects the Budget. Senator Hall said it was obvious the Opposition were gearing themselves for an election before Christmas. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
10 October	High Court majority rules as valid the Senate (Representation of Territories) Act. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
12 October	Federal Council of Liberal Party recommends that states not issue writs for half Senate if requested by Prime Minister of Australia, Hon Gough Whitlam QC. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
14 October	Federal Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Rex Connor resigns from Ministry after being shown to have mislead Parliament over ongoing negotiations for overseas loans with Tirath Khemlani. His replacement is Paul Keating. The Government introduces into the Senate Appropriation Bills (Nos 1 & 2) which give effect to the Federal budget. Debate on the Bills is adjourned. The scandal of the 'Loans Affair' provides the Opposition with the 'reprehensible circumstances' they need to argue that blocking the passage of the Budget in the Senate is in national interest. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
15 October	Leader of the Federal Opposition Liberal Party Malcolm Fraser effectively begins the constitutional crisis by announcing that Appropriation Bills will be blocked in the Senate until the Government agrees to submit to the judgement of the people through an election. Senate resolves not to proceed with the Loan Bill. Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC issues a statement quoting Malcolm Fraser who spoke the following words when he became Leader of the Federal Opposition on 21 March 1975 'The basic principle which I adhere to strongly is that a Government that continues to have a majority in the House of Representatives has a right to expect that it will be able to govern.' See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
16 October	The Senate resolves not to proceed with Appropriation Bills (Nos 1 and 2) in the same terms as adopted in respect of the Loan Bill the previous day. Resolutions communicated to the House of Representatives. Motion of confidence in the Government and the role of the House of Representatives agreed to by the House. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
18 October	The High Court upholds the Senate (Representation of Territories) Act. The decision was split in favour by four to three. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
19 October	The Federal Opposition Liberal Party steps up its pressure on the Governor-General Sir John Kerr, arguing that unless the constitutional deadlock is resolved he will have to dismiss the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Gough Whitlam QC and form a new Government. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
20 October	Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Gough Whitlam QC broadcasts an address to the nation explaining that the Government plans to re-introduce the Budget at the start of the second week of the constitutional crisis. Prime Minister Whitlam travels the nation attending mass rallies and public meetings in Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
21 October	The House of Representatives resolves that the Senate's actions on the Appropriation Bills were not contemplated within the terms of the Constitution and were contrary to established constitutional convention. The House of Representatives resolves that the Senate's actions in delaying the Loan Bill were contrary to the accepted means of financing a major portion of the defence budget. Resolutions are communicated to the Senate. Prime Minister of Australia, Hon Gough Whitlam QC attends Government House for the swearing in of Paul Keating, replacing former Minister of Minerals and Energy Rex Connor. The Governor-General Sir John Kerr intervenes in the constitutional crisis and calls Federal Opposition Leader Fraser to a one-meeting at Government House at 7pm. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
22 October	The Senate resolves that their actions in delaying the Appropriation Bills are a lawful and proper exercise, within the terms of the Constitution, of the powers of the Senate. The resolution is communicated to the House of Representatives. Bills identical to original Appropriation Bills and entitled Appropriation Bills (Nos 1 and 2) 1975-76 [No 2] are introduced and passed by the House of Representatives and introduced into the Senate. Loan Bill [No 2] introduced and passed by the House of Representatives See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
23 October	The Senate resolves not to proceed with Appropriation Bills [No 2] until the Government agrees to submit itselft to the judgment of the people. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
24 October	HRH Queen Elizabeth II revokes Sir Colin Hannah's dormant commission to administer the Commonwealth. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
26 October	Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC issues a press statement stripping the Governor of Queensland Sir Colin Hannah, of his powers to deputise for the Governor-General following his political remarks on 15 October 1975. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
27 October	The Government says it will not oppose moves by the Opposition to bring financier Tirath Khemlani before the bar of the Senate for questioning over the loans affair. Governor-General Sir John Kerr indicates that he does not want to intervene on the side of either Government or Opposition in the constitutional crisis. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
28 October	The House of Represenatives further denouces the Senate's actions in relation to original Appropriation Bills. Resolution communicated to the Senate. The Senate considers resolution of the House of Representatives relating to original Loan Bill. Further resolution proposed and negatived. Loan Bill [No 2] introduced in the Senate. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
29 October	Motion of want of confidence in the Government moved in the House of Representatives and negatived. Bills identical to original Appropriation Bills and entitled Appropriation Bills (Nos 1 and 2) 1975-76 [No 3] introduced and passed by the House of Representatives. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information
31 October	Prime Minister of Australia Hon Gough Whitlam QC tells the Australian Labor Party national executive in Canberra he will not call a general election and is prepared to stay in office without the funds of the Budget. He is looking for other means to pay public servants when supply runs out. See Days of Whitlam Government for more information

Glossary

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

Constitutional crisis - Section 57 of Australian Constitution

Disagreement between the Houses - If the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously. But such dissolution shall not take place within six months before the date of expiry of the House of Representatives by effluxion of time. More on Section 57 of Australian Constitution

Issue of Writs - The official trigger for the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct an election. Section 12 of Australian Constitution

The Governor of any state (and the Governor-General for the Territories) may cause writs to be issued for elections of senators for the State. In case of the dissolution of the Senate the writs shall be issued within ten days from the proclamation of such dissolution.

Senate (Representation of Territories) Act - Proposal for two Senators for each territory (ACT and NT) in either House of Parliament respectively