Tag: Kerr
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The Dismissal of Whitlam: A Pivotal Day in Australian Constitutional History
Introduction: A watershed moment in Australian politics On 11 November 1975, Australia faced one of the most dramatic constitutional episodes in its history. Governor-General Sir John Kerr used his reserve powers to dismiss Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his Labor government, effectively ending the Whitlam administration’s term in office. The move followed a brutal parliamentary…
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The Whitlam Dismissal: Kerr’s 1975 Constitutional Crisis
Introduction: A Turning Point in Australian Politics On November 11, 1975, Australia witnessed a dramatic constitutional clash that reshaped its political landscape: the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, exercised reserve powers to dismiss the elected government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. The acts that unfolded over a single day— Whitlam’s meeting with Kerr and the subsequent…