Forty years ago this week saw the climax of one of the most dramatic events in Australian political history when the Whitlam government was dismissed by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr.

On the 11 November 1975 the federal Labor government led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was controversially dismissed from government after a political deadlock in the parliament. Prime Minister Whitlam was so incensed by the Governor-General’s actions, he was moved to say ‘Well may we say God save the Queen, because nothing will save the Governor-General’.

Keep aliver the flower

Keep alive the flower of democracy, ECPO Australian Labor Party (This work is in copyright)

Hundreds of books and articles and millions of words have recounted and analysed these events ever since. These include many authoritative histories like November 1975 by Paul Kelly, Crash through or Crash by Laurie Oakes and Whitlam’s own writings such as The Whitlam Government 1972-1975. These and other works are extremely valuable as part of the historical account and assessment of what took place.

A much more vivid and arresting insight into the drama and passions aroused by these events can be had by looking at the newspapers, political ephemera and posters from that time. Fortunately the State Library of Victoria has significant collections of political ephemera and newspapers covering the entire Whitlam government period from 1972 until 1975. Most of the these are housed in the Riley Political Ephemera collection.

Medibank save it

For Medibank and your sake vote ALP December 13th, ECPO Australian Labor Party (This work is in copyright)

The election campaign that followed the dismissal on November 11 saw two contrasting approaches by the major parties. The Labor party saw a grave threat to Australian democracy as a result of its dismissal. The Liberal party on the other hand concentrated on the economic performance of the Whitlam government and what it saw as corrupt or incompetent governance. Towards the end of the election campaign the Labor party gave greater emphasis to economic and social issues but it was too late and it suffered a massive defeat at the election on 13 December.

Lets not forget 3 dark years

Let’s not forget 1972-75, ECPO Liberal Party (This work is in copyright)

 

Frasers-Jaws

Riley and Ephemera Collection. Australian Labor Party, Elections, Federal 1975. Folder 1. (This work is in copyright)

Newspaper reporting on the dismissal was extensive and some of these can be accessed online. Trove has digitised the Canberra Times for the entire 1972-1975 period including the 12 November 1975, the day after the dismissal. The Sydney Morning Herald  filled page one and several others with the story, while in far away Ireland, the Irish Independent reported the event as ‘Whitlam fired’

These and other newspaper reports from the time can be read online from links on our newspapers eresources pages. Access is free for Victorian members of the State Library of Victoria. See our become a member page for details.

ALP PrisonRiley and Ephemera Collection. Liberal Party, Elections, Federal, 1975. Folder 2. (This work is in copyright)

For more information about our political ephemera and newspaper collections see our research guides, Protests, Activism and Dissent in Victoria and How to Find Newspapers. For more information about the Whitlam dismissal generally see the website devoted to the Whitlam dismissal, whitlamdismissal.com

Give-Gough-a-Go-badge-e1447041688821

Riley and Ephemera Collection. Badge. Australian Labor Party. 1975. (This work is in copyright)

 

Shame-Fraser-Shame-badge-e1447041777959

Riley and Ephemera Collection. Badge. Australian Labor Party. 1975. (This work is in copyright)

This article has 2 comments

  1. Very well written Tim. I remember it well and was working in the ATO when we heard of the dismissal. One of my fellow worked was so incensed he said ” That’s it-I’m not doing any more work today when the government I voted for has been sacked”. People were totally shocked that such a thing could happen..

  2. I have one of the Riley and Ephemera Collection Badges of “Give Gough A Go” Australian Labor Party 1975. I was 20 years old and was also angery that my choice of government had been sacked.

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