Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched a blistering attack as the nation marks 50 years since Governer-General John Kerr sacked the Whitlam government.
The PM described the 1975 dismissal a “stern test of Australian democracy”.
“Make no mistake: November 11th 1975, was not a constitutional crisis, it was a partisan political ambush,” he said in a speech at Old Parliament House on Monday evening.
“There was no real precedent, and no legitimate pretext.”
He also announced plans to unveil a statue of Gough Whitlam outside Old Parliament House.
“Australians will be able to stand with Gough, put an arm around the great man’s shoulders, and remind ourselves that if we maintain our enthusiasm, it’s always time,” Albanese said.
Whitlam was dismissed on the front steps of Old Parliament House on November 11, 1975, over a deadlock which could have seen Australia run out of money for crucial services.
Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser had refused to pass Whitlam’s budget, leading to a constitutional crisis Governor-General Sir John Kerr resolved by firing the prime minister and appointing Fraser to the role.
Howard, who was a junior member of the Fraser opposition in the lead-up to the dismissal, said Whitlam didn’t handle the politics of the saga well.
“I think he just assumed that Kerr was his man and would do his bidding, and that was a terrible mistake,” he said.
“He should have worked out for himself that Kerr might exercise the reserve power and dismiss him.”
– With AAP
Gough Whitlam addresses the crowd on the steps of parliament house in Canberra. Credit: PR HANDOUT
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Albanese delivers scathing speech as nation marks 50th anniversary.
Albanese delivers scathing speech as nation marks 50th anniversary.