1972 1973 1974 1975 1976

Labour gains power on the 2nd of December 1972

Gair Affair

Joint Sitting Of Parliament

Overseas loan affair

Constitutional Crisis

Whitlam Dismissal

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Double Dissolution Election 18th Of May 1974

It’s time video 1972 election Aftermath

Labour Gain Power Under Gough Whitlam

On the 2 December 1972 Gough Whitlam took his party to victory in the 1972 election using the campaign slogan, It’s time .

This was a historic day because the liberals had held power for the last 23 years and had won 9 elections in a row.

In the 1972 election labour won 49.6% of the primary vote

In the House of Representatives the seats won by labour were :NSW 28, VIC 14, QLD 8, WA 4, SA 7, TAS 5, ACT 1, NT 0, in Total 67.

The liberals only got 38 seats in the house of representatives

In the senate: NSW 28, VIC 14, QLD 8, WA 4, SA 7, TAS 5, Total 26.

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Double Dissolution ElectionThe labour party called a double dissolution election on 18th

of may 1974 because Bill Snedden said the liberals would block supply bills in the senate as they held power.

The labour party and liberal party got 29 seats out of 60 each with the balance of power held by Steele Hall of the Liberal Movement, and Michael Townley, a conservative independent but in February 1975 Townley joined the liberals giving them power in the senate.

Labour party won the election with 67 seats in the house of representatives and 51.70 percent of the vote compared to the liberals 61 votes and 48.30 percent of the vote.

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Gair AffairIn 1974 Gough Whitlam attempted to

increase the chance to win an extra seat in the senate by offering the former premier of Queensland and Australian politician, Vince Clair Gair the job of ambassador to Ireland. The other parties were outraged with this decision. The Queensland premier of that time Joh Bjelke-Petersen thwarted Gough Whitlam plan by keeping Gair busy so he didn’t have time to resign in time.

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Vince Gair

Joint Sitting Of ParliamentOn the 6th and 7th of August in 1974 a joint sitting of Parliament was called in which the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were involved in

the first joint sitting of Parliament in Australia's history. This was held after the double disillusion election in 1974. It remains the only time when members of the House of Representatives and the Senate sat together as a single legislative body pursuant to section 57 of the Constitution.

The sitting voted upon the following bills:Commonwealth Electoral Bill (No. 2) 1973-Which sought to make Commonwealth electorates more even in size by reducing the allowable quota variation from

20% to 10%.Senate (Representation of Territories) Bill 1973-Which gave the Territories of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory two senators each.Representation Bill 1973-Which stated that neither the people from the territories or the senators from the territories could be included in the formula for

deciding the number of seats for the House of Representatives from each state.Health Insurance Bill 1973-Which was the main bill and proposed Medibank (now known as Medicare). Health Insurance Commission Bill 1973-Which established the Medibank administrative agency the Health Insurance Commission (now known as Medicare

Australia).Petroleum and Minerals Authority Bill 1973-Which established a body to control the exploration for, and development of petroleum and mining resources.All of these six bills were affirmed by an absolute majority of the total members and senators.

In early 1974, the conservative parties led by Billy Snedden had chosen to use their majority of their seats in the Senate to oppose key government legislation. As the Senate had rejected the bills twice, the Prime Minister was entitled to request a double dissolution under section 57 of the Constitution. Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam did request a double dissolution and the Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck agreed. On the 18th of May an election for both houses of Parliament was held.

The Labor party was returned with a slightly reduced number in the House of Representatives and still without the Senate majority it required to pass the legislation. The new Parliament was convened in on the 9th of July and on the 11th of July, Sir Paul Hasluck’s term as Governor-General ended and Sir John Kerr was sworn in. The legislation was reintroduced but once again failed to pass the Senate. All the constitutional requirements for a joint sitting of Parliament had been met and on the 30th of July at Whitlam’s request, Sir John Kerr issued a proclamation convening a joint sitting of Parliament. The coalition parties tried to prevent the joint sitting by challenging its constitutional validity in the High Court. The court delivered their decision on the 5th of August and ruled that the sitting was valid.

The joint sitting of all 187 members of Parliament was held over two days in the House of Representatives chamber. The speaker Jim Cope took his seat and the first joint sitting of Parliament began. Given the importance of the occasion both sides showed behaviour and restraint. The Opposition continued to oppose the legislation but Labor majority in the House of Representatives was so overwhelming that it had an overall majority in Parliament and all the legislation was passed easily. The sitting finished at 11 p.m. on the 7th of August. While Labor saw it as a historic event, the Liberals saw it as a waste of time. The next day the Governor-General gave Royal assent to all the bills.

13 months later four state litigants, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia took legal action against the Minister for Minerals and Energy, Rex Connor and the Commonwealth Government, and successfully overturned the Petroleum and Minerals Authority Act following the grounds that correct constitutional procedure had not been followed.

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Overseas Loan AffairIn 1975 the Australian government was caught

up in the overseas loan affair in which the Minister for Minerals Rex Connor at the time and Energy and Dr. Jim Cairns the treasurer of the time attempted to raise over 4 million dollars to fund natural energy projects.

They sought to get the money from the middle east as the petrol price had quadrupled just before hand so there was a lot of money in the middle east, Connor used Tirath Khemlani a Pakistani broker to secure the loan.

No money was ever obtained, this scandal just made the government look bad.

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Rex Connor

Jim Cairns

Constitutional CrisisIn October 1975, the Opposition used its control of the Senate to defer a passage of appropriation bills or supply which financed governmental operations and

which had been passed by the House of Representatives. The Opposition stated that they would continue to do so until Prime Minister Gough Whitlam called an election for the House of Representatives and urged Sir John Kerr (Governor-General) to dismiss Whitlam unless he agreed to their demand. On the 11th of November, 1975 Whitlam intended to call a half-Senate election in an attempt to break the deadlock. When he went to Kerr for approval of this, he found himself dismissed as Prime Minister. Kerr appointed Opposition leader Malcom Fraser as acting Prime Minister. Fraser and his allies were able to secure a passage of the appropriation bills and Kerr dissolved Parliament for a double dissolution election. Fraser and his government were returned with a massive majority.

After the valid ruling of the valid ruling of the High Court that gave the ACT and NT 2 senators each it became possible for the ALP to gain a temporary majority in the Senate. Fraser was undecided whether to block supply of appropriation bills after the High Court ruling. However following more Government scandals and the poor state of the economy Fraser determined to block supply. He convened a Shadow Cabinet meeting and received full support from the Coalition frontbench. Without the passage of new appropriation bills the supply would be exhausted by the 30th of November.

On the 16th and 17th of October 1975 the Senate with the support of the Coalition majority deferred the appropriation bills. The Coalition thought that if the Government could not secure supply, Sir John Kerr would dismiss Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister.

Whitlam’s former solicitor-general, Robert Ellicott issued a legal opinion stating that the Governor General had the power to dismiss Whitlam and should do if Whitlam could not state how he would obtain supply. Kerr and Whitlam entered further discussions concerning the crisis, with emphasis on Ellicott’s view. On the 21st of October, Kerr asked Whitlam if he could interview Fraser, which the Prime Minister granted and the two met that night. Fraser told Kerr that the Opposition were determined to block supply. Fraser indicated that the Opposition’s decision to defer the appropriation bills, rather than defeating them, was a tactical decision. Fraser stated that the Coalition agreed with the Ellicott opinion and proposed to continue deferring supply while it awaited events. Throughout the crisis, Kerr did not tell Whitlam of his increasing concerns, nor did he suggest that he might dismiss Whitlam. There were intense public interest and concern at the stalemate and Fraser and his Liberals acted to shore up support. Liberal frontbenchers worked to build up support in State organisations.

Kerr, Whitlam and Minister for Labor Senator Jim McClelland arranged a meeting on the 30th of October. At that meeting, Kerr proposed a possible compromise. If the Opposition were to allow supply to pass, Whitlam would not advise a half-Senate election until May or June 1976, and the Senate would not convene until the 1st of July therefore getting rid of the threat of a possible temporary Labor majority. Whitlam, who was determined to destroy both the Senate’s right to block supply and Fraser’s leadership, refused any compromise.

Fraser proposed a compromise. This compromise was that the Opposition would concede supply if Whitlam agreed to hold a House of Representatives election at the same time as the half-Senate election. Whitlam rejected this idea.

Kerr met with Fraser again. Fraser told Kerr that if Kerr did not dismiss Whitlam, the Opposition planned to criticise him in Parliament for failing to carry out his duty.

Kerr concluded on the 6th of November that neither the Government or the Opposition would stand down, and that supply would run out. The Governor-General decided that as Whitlam could not secure supply, and would not resign or call an election for the House of Representatives, he would have to sack him.

Seeking confirmation of his decision, he contacted the Chief Justice, Sir Garfield Barwick. Kerr met with Barwick and asked for his views of a dismissal of Whitlam. Barwick gave Kerr written advice containing his view that a Governor-General could and should dismiss a Prime Minister who was unable to obtain supply.

On the 9th of November, Fraser contacted Whitlam and invited him to negotiations with the Coalition aimed at settling the ongoing dispute. Whitlam agreed and a meeting was arranged for 9 a.m. on Tuesday the 11th of November 1975 at Parliament House.

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Whitlam DismissalAt 9 a.m. on the 11th of November 1975, Whitlam and his Deputy Prime Minister Frank Crean together with the

Leader of the House Fred Daly met with the Liberal and Country party leaders. No decision could be reached. Whitlam informed the Coalition leaders that he would be advising Sir John Kerr to hold a half-Senate election on the 13th of December and he would not be seeking supply for the period of time before the election.

Whitlam and Fraser met Kerr at Yarralumla, the official residence of the Governor-General, on the same day. Kerr met with Whitlam first and told him that his commission as Prime Minister was withdrawn under section 64 of the Constitution, and handed him a letter and statement of reasons. The dismissal concluded with Kerr wishing Whitlam luck in the election and offering his hand, which the former Prime Minister took.

After Whitlam left, Kerr called in Fraser. He informed Fraser of the dismissal and asked him if he would form a caretaker Government, which Fraser agreed to.

Prior to Whitlam’s dismissal the Labor leadership decided to introduce a motion that the Senate pass the appropriation bills.

After Whitlam’s dismissal, Fraser returned to the House of Representatives and announced his intent to advise a double dissolution and move that the House adjourn. His motion was defeated.

With the appropriation bills approved by both Houses, they were sent over to Yarralumla where Kerr gave them Royal Assent. Fraser then asked that both Houses be dissolved for an election on the 13th of December. Kerr signed the proclamation dissolving Parliament, and sent his Official Secretary, David Smith to proclaim the dissolution from the front steps of Parliament House. Smith was forced to enter Parliament House through a side door and make his way to the steps from the inside. He read the proclamation, though the boos of the crowd drowned him out. He concluded with the traditional “God save the Queen”. Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, who had been standing behind Smith, then addressed the crowd.

“Well may we say “God save the Queen”, because nothing will save the Governor-General...”

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AftermathThe news that Whitlam had been dismissed spread across Australia during the afternoon, triggering immediate

protest demonstrations.On the 12th of November 1975, the First Fraser Ministry was sworn in by Kerr.Labor believed it had a chance of winning the elections, and that the dismissal would be an electoral asset for

them. However, some Labor strategists believed the party was heading for a disaster, with few economic accomplishments to point to and an electorate whose emotions would have cooled before polling day.

Polls showed the electorate was turning against the ALP. The Coalition attacked Labor for the economic conditions. The ALP campaign, which had concentrated on the issue of Whitlam’s dismissal, did not begin to address the economy until its final days. By that time Fraser was confident of victory, content to sit back, avoid specifics and make no mistakes.

In the 13th of December election, the Coalition won a record victory.

The dismissal has been considered as the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Australia’s history.In the wake of the dismissal, the ALP turned its anger on Kerr. Demonstrations marked his appearances, while the

remaining ALP lawmakers did not go to his opening of the new Parliament. Whitlam, now leader of the Opposition never spoke to Kerr again.

Whitlam resigned as ALP leader after the party suffered its second successive electoral loss in 1977. Fraser served as Prime Minister for over seven years and left the Liberal leadership after the Coalition was defeated in the March 1983 election.

Kerr announce his resignation as Governor-General on the 14 th of July 1977. Kerr died in Australia in 1991.

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Bibliography• http://australianpolitics.com/voting/elections/1972-federal• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Gair#The_.22Gair_Affair.22• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_1974• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqMCZBjvmD4• http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/lab/86/obit_strangio.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Connor• http://whitlamdismissal.com/loans/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Sitting_of_the_Australian_Parliament_

of_1974• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_Australian_constitutional_crisis

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