Simone Lawson
The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, also known as The Dismissal, culminated in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) by Governor-General Sir John Kerr. This event was the result of a series of controversies during Whitlam's tenure, including the Loans Affair, which led to the government losing support, and the appointment of Senator Murphy to the High Court of Australia, which was seen as a political move to secure Labor seats in the Senate. The crisis also involved the deferral of appropriation bills by the Opposition, led by Malcolm Fraser, which created a parliamentary deadlock. Ultimately, Whitlam's request for a half-Senate election to break the deadlock was denied by Kerr, who instead dismissed him and appointed Fraser as caretaker prime minister, leading to a general election and a significant majority win for Fraser's Liberal-Country Coalition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the event | 11 November 1975 |
| Event | Dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam |
| Reason | The government lost support due to the "Loans Affair" |
| Outcome | The ALP turned its anger on Kerr, boycotting his appearances |
| Amendments | The Senate retains the power to block supply; the governor-general retains the power to dismiss a prime minister |
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What You'll Learn
The dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
The events leading up to the dismissal began with the election in 1972, which ended 23 consecutive years of Liberal-Country Coalition government. While Labor won a majority in the House of Representatives, they faced a hostile Senate. In May 1974, the Senate rejected six of Labor's non-supply bills, leading Whitlam to advise the governor-general, Sir Paul Hasluck, to call a double dissolution election. The election saw Labor re-elected, but with a reduced majority in the House of Representatives and a deadlock in Parliament.
Whitlam's government proved turbulent and controversial. In February 1975, he appointed Senator Murphy to the High Court of Australia, a decision that was likely to cost the ALP a Senate seat in the next half-Senate election. As information about the "Loans Affair" emerged, the government lost further support. In October 1975, the Opposition, led by Fraser, used its control of the Senate to block supply, refusing to pass appropriation bills needed to finance government expenditure. Fraser demanded that Whitlam call a fresh election for the House of Representatives.
On November 11, 1975, Whitlam sought Kerr's approval for a half-Senate election to break the parliamentary deadlock. Instead of accepting Whitlam's request, Kerr dismissed him and installed Fraser as caretaker prime minister. Acting quickly, Fraser and his allies secured passage of the supply bills and advised Kerr to dissolve Parliament for a double dissolution election. The Liberal-Country Coalition won the subsequent election with a massive majority.
The Dismissal led to only minor constitutional changes. While the Senate retained the power to block supply and the governor-general retained the power to dismiss prime ministers, these powers have not been used since to force a government from office. The ALP directed its anger at Kerr, boycotting his appearances and refusing invitations to events.
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The 'Loans Affair'
The Loans Affair refers to the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, also known as "The Dismissal", which culminated in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) by Governor-General Sir John Kerr.
The crisis was precipitated by a series of events, including the ALP government's turbulent and controversial tenure, which faced a hostile Senate. In May 1974, the Senate rejected six of Labor's non-supply bills, leading Whitlam to advise the governor-general, Sir Paul Hasluck, to call a double dissolution election. The election saw Labor re-elected, but with a reduced majority in the House of Representatives and a deadlock in Parliament.
In October 1975, the Opposition under Malcolm Fraser used its control of the Senate to block supply, deferring passage of appropriation bills needed to finance government expenditure. Fraser and the Opposition stated they would continue to do so unless Whitlam called a fresh election for the House of Representatives.
Additionally, as information about the government's unsuccessful efforts to secure loans through a Pakistani financier, Tirath Khemlani, became public, the government lost support.
On November 11, 1975, Whitlam sought Kerr's approval for a half-Senate election to break the parliamentary deadlock. However, Kerr dismissed Whitlam as prime minister and appointed Fraser as caretaker prime minister, with the understanding that he would call a general election. Fraser and his allies quickly secured passage of the supply bills and advised Kerr to dissolve Parliament for a double dissolution election. The following month, Fraser and his Liberal-Country Coalition won the federal election with a significant majority.
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The ALP loses a Senate seat
The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, also known as "The Dismissal", culminated in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) by Sir John Kerr, the governor-general. Whitlam's tenure in office was turbulent and controversial, and in October 1975, the Opposition under Malcolm Fraser used its control of the Senate to defer passage of appropriation bills needed to finance government expenditure. Fraser and the Opposition stated that they would continue to block supply in the Senate unless Whitlam called for a fresh election for the House of Representatives.
On November 11, 1975, Whitlam sought Kerr's approval to call a half-Senate election to break the parliamentary deadlock. However, Kerr dismissed Whitlam as prime minister and appointed Fraser as caretaker prime minister, with the understanding that he would immediately call a general election. Fraser and his allies quickly secured passage of the supply bills through the Senate and advised Kerr to dissolve Parliament for a double dissolution election.
The ALP lost a Senate seat due to Whitlam's decision to appoint Senator Murphy to the High Court of Australia in February 1975. Under the Senate's electoral system, Labor could win three of the five New South Wales seats, but if Murphy's seat was contested, it was unlikely they would win four out of six. Thus, appointing Murphy would almost certainly cost the ALP a Senate seat at the next half-Senate election. This proved to be the case, as the ALP lost the election, and with it, control of the Senate.
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The constitutional convention closes without a document to submit
The 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention, recognising the need for a new state constitution, failed to produce a document to submit to voters. The convention closed on July 30, 1974, after seven months, failing by three votes (118 for, 62 against, and 1 not voting).
The Sixty-second Texas Legislature had passed a resolution in May 1971, calling for the establishment of a constitutional revision commission and for the convening of the Sixty-third Legislature as a constitutional convention. The resolution was presented to the voters of Texas as Constitutional Amendment Number 4 on November 7, 1972, and was approved by a significant majority.
The commission held its first meeting in March 1973 and presented its recommendations for a new constitution to the legislature on November 1, 1973. The proposed document was the first thorough attempt to draft a new constitution for Texas since the Constitutional Convention of 1875.
On January 8, 1974, the Sixty-third Legislature convened as a constitutional convention, meeting as a unicameral body in the chamber of the House of Representatives, with Lieutenant Governor Hobby presiding as temporary chairman. Despite the extensive preparations, the convention ultimately failed to produce a document to submit to the voters.
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The eight amendments are defeated
The 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention was a limited convention, meaning that the Bill of Rights could not be changed. The convention was convened to address the need for a new state constitution. The Sixty-second Texas Legislature passed a resolution in May 1971 that called for the establishment of a constitutional revision commission and for the convening of the Sixty-third Legislature as a constitutional convention. The commission held its first meeting in March 1973 and presented its recommendations for a new constitution to the legislature on November 1, 1973.
The Sixty-third Legislature convened as a constitutional convention on January 8, 1974, with Lieutenant Governor Hobby presiding as temporary chairman. After seven months, the constitutional convention closed on July 30, 1974, having failed by three votes to produce a document to submit to the voters.
However, in 1975, the legislature approved a new constitution in the form of eight amendments approved by the normal amendment process. These eight amendments went before the voters on November 4, 1975, in a special election, and were all defeated. Despite the defeat of the eight amendments, the Bill of Rights remained unchanged.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1974 Texas Constitutional Convention was a limited convention that recognized the need for a new state constitution.
The convention closed on July 30, 1974, having failed by three votes to produce a document to submit to voters.
In 1975, the legislature approved a new constitution in the form of eight amendments approved by the normal amendment process.
All eight amendments were defeated.
