The Dismissal of Gough Whitlam and the Australian Constitutional Crisis of 1975: When No One Knew the Rules

This is an exploration of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, in which Australia’s Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, was dismissed by its Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, using the vague and (to most people) unknown reserve powers of the Crown. By examining those events and their background, the constitutional and legal powers at play, the various explanations given for the dismissal (including claims that Kerr acted conspiratorially or followed instructions from either the Queen or the CIA), and the long-term political consequences, Killey sheds new light on a historic event in Australia’s constitutional history.

Ian Killey PSM is an experienced Australian public lawyer.