Australia: The Dismissal

1975 Australian constitutional crisis of 1975 ('The Dismissal'): Australian Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed the Labor government of Gough Whitlam, commissioned conservative Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister, and announced a general election which took place on December 2.

It is generally regarded as the most significant domestic political and constitutional crisis in Australia's history ...

Interviews not to be missed
Phillip Adams (Late Night Live): Whitlam and Fraser on the 30th anniversary
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Unfortunately, Adams doesn't interview Fraser and Whitlam together, but the old mortal enemies have indeed been known to appear together in public. Thirty years ago, Whitlam called on Australians to "maintain the rage", but that rage he feels is today more directed towards Kerr, who Whitlam calls "a contemptible man". In 2005, Whitlam finds that politically he has few disagreements with Malcolm Fraser.

The interview with Fraser, the man we all used to love to hate, is amazing: he is scathing of the government of John Howard, leader of the same Liberal Party he headed in 1975. He finds it amazing how far to the right politics has drifted, and he doesn't have a good word for the Liberal Party, which he believes was once truly "Liberal". Amazingly, Fraser, once reviled by the Left, and someone we all believed to be somewhat to the Right of Atilla the Hun, is now able to speak to Left-wing audiences to sustained standing ovations. Any Australian about 40 years and older will find this most astonishing, and will, I'm sure, appreciate the interview. Fraser also has some advice for Kim Beazley (the war-mad right-wing leader of the Labor Party): Sack your pollsters, and get some principle back into your party.

Howard: Not an overnight bastard
Something slips out in the interview with Fraser which is very interesting. It wasn't meant to slip out; Adams mistakenly believes that Fraser is giving him permission to mention something Fraser had once told him off the record. Adams reveals that almost 30 years ago John Howard opposed Fraser's progressive actions in allowing desperate Vietnamese 'boat people' refugees into Australia. No one will be surprised to hear that about current Australia's flint-hearted Prime Minister.

Tagged: australia, labor, progressive, history