The 50th Anniversary of the Dismissal
Next Tuesday marks 50 years since governor-general Sir John Kerr exercised a constitutional power to resolve a severe political deadlock and secure funds necessary for the Crown to run the government. Despite acting within his constitutional authority, Sir John has been relentlessly criticized, even after his death.
Clarifying Sir John Kerr’s Role
It is important to understand that Sir John Kerr did not remove a deeply flawed government—this was done by the Australian people. Kerr’s intervention provided them the chance to do so, but that was a consequence rather than his intent.
Expected Controversy on the Anniversary
The anniversary has prompted a renewed wave of criticism against Sir John Kerr from multiple sources: a new biography of Whitlam, a Sky News Australia documentary, and a day-long event hosted by the Museum of Australian Democracy and streamed live from Old Parliament House.
Partisan Nature of the Commemoration
The event, chaired by Barrie Cassidy, features participants such as journalists Paul Kelly and Troy Bramston, alongside Professor Jenny Hocking—all known critics of Kerr. The majority of the contributors are aligned with the Labor party, promising a highly contested atmosphere on what is otherwise a significant day in Australian political history.
“Sir John Kerr simply gave them the opportunity to do so. And more importantly, that was a by-product of – not the motivation for – his decision.”
Author’s summary: The 50th anniversary of Kerr’s dismissal reignites fierce debate, highlighting deep divisions over his constitutional role and the political motivations behind it.
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