Both political camps anticipated victory in the resolution of the crisis. But only one side could prevail. By the end of the day, the Senate would pass Supply, Parliament would be dissolved, and leadership of the nation would be thrown into uncertainty.
Malcolm Fraser, Philip Lynch and Doug Anthony arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office for a meeting with Gough Whitlam, Frank Crean and Fred Daly to discuss the deadlocked Senate. Whitlam insisted that the Opposition agree to pass the Budget within six hours or he would advise the Governor-General to hold a half-Senate election. Fraser asked: “Are you certain that’s the only option?”.
Whitlam phoned Sir John Kerr on his private line and asked to see him before the House of Representatives sat at 11:45am. Kerr advised that he could not make that time due to other commitments, so a 1:00pm meeting was arranged. According to Whitlam, Kerr gave the impression that all was well.
Whitlam entered the Ministerial Party Room and spoke to the Labor Caucus meeting. He proposed a half-Senate election to break the deadlock. Caucus unanimously endorsed his proposal. There was a feeling of euphoria and a sense of victory within Labor Party ranks.
Kerr rang Fraser to arrange a meeting. The substance of this call was later disputed by Kerr. Fraser says that Kerr asked the following hypothetical questions:
Fraser says he answered yes to all questions.
Kerr officiated at the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
The Governor-General Sir John Kerr attended Remembrance Day commemorations at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Image courtesy of News Limited.
Sir John Kerr’s letter to Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, terminating his commission. Courtesy of Gough Whitlam.
Fraser left the House of Representatives in mid-session to meet with Kerr at Government House.
Fraser arrived at Government House and was shown to a private sitting room where he waited with the Governor-General’s Official Secretary, Mr David Smith. Outside, the driver of Fraser’s car was asked by an aide-de-camp to move the car around the corner.
Whitlam arrived at Government House and was shown directly to Kerr’s study. He did not see Fraser’s car. Before Whitlam could present papers for the half-Senate election to Kerr, Sir John handed him a letter terminating his commission and that of his Government.
Following a brief exchange, Kerr stated: “We shall all have to live with this”. Whitlam replied: “You certainly will”. The two men shook hands. Whitlam never spoke to Kerr again.
Whitlam arrived at the Lodge, the Prime Minister’s residence in Canberra. He placed a number of calls to his chief advisers - Graham Freudenberg, John Mant, Frank Crean, Fred Daly, David Combe and Kep Enderby. Whitlam invited them to the Lodge but did not tell them what had happened. Whitlam sat down for lunch—later reflecting that, “I had my meal after the execution”. In the middle of his lunch his party arrived. As each of them entered the sunroom Whitlam told them, “We’ve been sacked”, and showed them Kerr’s letter of dismissal. The reaction in each case was one of total disbelief. Oblivious to the fact that Fraser had already been sworn in as caretaker Prime Minister, the group immediately debated possible parliamentary tactics.
Not one attempted to contact senior Labor Senators.
Fraser was shown to Kerr’s study. Kerr offered to commission Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister on the proviso that he could guarantee Supply and recommend an election for both Houses. Fraser accepted and left for Parliament House determined to obtain Supply.
Leader of the Coalition in the Senate, Reg Withers, arrived at Fraser’s office and was advised that Whitlam had been dismissed and that the Coalition was now the caretaker Government. Fraser was anxious to secure Supply and asked Withers: “How long will it take?” Knowing that Labor Senators were unaware of the dismissal, Withers replied: “Just leave it to me Malcolm”.
Word of the dismissal had spread among members of the press gallery at Parliament House. Veteran journalist Alan Reid went to King’s Hall. There he saw Doug McClelland and called him over. But before Reid could tell him what had happened, McClelland and senior ALP Senators Ken Wriedt and Don Willesee were called to the Senate for the afternoon session.
Opposing Senate Leaders, Labor’s Ken Wriedt and Liberal Reg Withers exchanged barbs over the Senate table. Wriedt said to Withers: “Come on Reg let’s get this thing over and done with and the [Supply] Bills passed”. Withers, realising that Labor Senators were still unaware of the dismissal, replied: “Oh yes, I think we can do that”. Wriedt was concerned by Withers’ manner and consulted with Willesee and McClelland. “There’s something strange here...I can’t understand why they’ve changed their minds”.
Wriedt was signalled by fellow Senator John Button who said: “There’s a story going around that the Government’s been sacked?” “Don’t be bloody ridiculous!”, replied Wriedt. Nevertheless, Wriedt sent his staff to check the rumours, but within moments the Supply Bills were called on, and within minutes they were voted on.
Senator Wriedt, now aware of what had happened but in an impossible situation, moved that the Supply bills be passed. Supply was then secured for Fraser, as requested by Kerr.
Caretaker Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, leaves Parliament House for an appointment with the Governor-General. Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
Malcolm Fraser rose from his chair in the House of Representatives Chamber and announced: “Mr Speaker. This afternoon the Governor-General commissioned me to form a Government until elections can be held…”. The House erupted. Under a barrage from Labor Members shouting, “Shame! Shame!”, Fraser concluded his speech and moved a motion to close the session. Whitlam, still with a majority in the House of Representatives, defeated Fraser’s motion 64 to 55.
Whitlam rose from his chair and moved: “That this House expresses its want of confidence in the Prime Minister and requests Mr Speaker forthwith to advise His Excellency the Governor-General to call the Honourable Member for Werriwa [Whitlam] to form a Government.” In his speech Whitlam argued that as Supply had been passed in the Senate, there was no longer a deadlock, and that the rightfully elected Government could now govern. His motion was carried 64 to 54. The Speaker, Gordon Scholes, advised he would convey the message to the Governor-General as a matter of priority.
The House of Representatives adjourned. Scholes sought an appointment with the Governor-General and was advised by Kerr’s Official Secretary, David Smith, that Kerr was occupied and may not be able to see him. Scholes threatened to recall the House, inform Members of the situation and seek further guidance if Kerr would not see him. Kerr relented and agreed to see him at 4:45pm. However the Supply Bills, passed by the Senate, made their way to Kerr at 3:50pm. If Kerr signed these Bills Whitlam’s counter manoeuvre would be foiled.
Kerr signed both the Supply Bills and a proclamation dissolving both Houses of Parliament and calling an election on December 13.
Speaker Gordon Scholes arrived at the gates of Government House but was kept waiting until David Smith drove out to Parliament House to read the proclamation dissolving the two Houses.
David Smith, in formal attire, proceeded to the front steps of Parliament House to read the proclamation. By now, thousands of protesters, alerted by media reports, had massed around the steps. As Smith read the proclamation Whitlam loomed over his right shoulder. Smith was drowned out by demonstrators chanting: “We want Gough!”
The crowd at the front of Old Parliament House following the dismissal of the Whitlam government on 11 November, 1975. Museum of Australian Democracy collection.
Gough Whitlam delivered one the most famous lines uttered by an Australian politician: “Well may we say ‘God Save the Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor-General.”