Dismissal timeline - September 1975

Federal Parliament sits 2-4, 9-11 and 30 September 1975

3 September

Queensland Country Party Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen chooses Albert Patrick Field to replace Labor Senator Bert Milliner following his death on 30 June. Field was not a nominee of the Australian Labor Party.

The seat should have been filed by the ALPs nominee Dr Mal Colston, however Bjelke-Petersen broke with convention appointing an anti-Labor candidate. The unconventional appointment of Field replacing Labor Senator Milliner continues to alter the balance of power in the Senate reducing Federal Government Senate numbers to 27 and setting the stage for the Government's constitutional crisis.

See Days of Whitlam Government for more information

 
9 September

Twenty five Government Senators walkout of Parliament following the swearing in of Senator Albert Field.

Senator Field, who did not support Prime Minister Whitlam, voted with the Liberal-Country Party coalition to block key supply laws.

See Days of Whitlam Government for more information