#thedismissal — Public Fediverse posts

Attached is a short read from Professor Jenny Hocking, the person whose unrelenting work on The Dismissal led to the release of the ‘Palace Letters’ (amongst other things).

The article is worth a read.

#Auspol #TheDismissal #Whitlam #Kerr #Fraser

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/the-dismissal-at-50-a-calculated-plot-an-ambush-a-coup/

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, where the Governor General (the Queen’s representative in Australia), Sir John Kerr, exercised the little known Reserve Powers to sack the democratically elected government of Gough Whitlam.

Whitlam’s Government is now more broadly remembered by the general population for its long list of reforms over the three years they were in government more than the manner of its ending. Those reforms rocketed Australia from a particularly sleepy and inward looking nation in the 1950s and 1960s toward a more outward looking and progressive nation in the 1970s.

I have tooted and retooted numerous articles about The Dismissal in the last week, so I will not be discussing all the details again.

Instead, I will keep it really simple.

What will people be thinking of the Albanese Government in 50 years from now? A government with an absolutely stonking majority, an almost certain third term and no effective opposition other than a rag tag bunch of independents.

I posit that the Albanese Government will likely be remembered as a government that pissed a great opportunity up against the wall, a government that was too scared of its own reflection to make any meaningful change. A government that purported to be progressive and reformist while doing none of those things. A government with tremendous opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change that addressed systemic problems which are holding Australia back. And a government that squibbed its responsibility to the future.

I won’t be around in 50 years … so I won’t be able to reflect back on the Albanese Government. But I ask you to think about this:

What would Whitlam have achieved with a majority half the size of the majority held by the Albanese Government and with a near certainty of a third term from the outset of their second term?

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years #Albanese

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, where the Governor General (the Queen’s representative in Australia), Sir John Kerr, exercised the little known Reserve Powers to sack the democratically elected government of Gough Whitlam.

Whitlam’s Government is now more broadly remembered by the general population for its long list of reforms over the three years they were in government more than the manner of its ending. Those reforms rocketed Australia from a particularly sleepy and inward looking nation in the 1950s and 1960s toward a more outward looking and progressive nation in the 1970s.

I have tooted and retooted numerous articles about The Dismissal in the last week, so I will not be discussing all the details again.

Instead, I will keep it really simple.

What will people be thinking of the Albanese Government in 50 years from now? A government with an absolutely stonking majority, an almost certain third term and no effective opposition other than a rag tag bunch of independents.

I posit that the Albanese Government will likely be remembered as a government that pissed a great opportunity up against the wall, a government that was too scared of its own reflection to make any meaningful change. A government that purported to be progressive and reformist while doing none of those things. A government with tremendous opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change that addressed systemic problems which are holding Australia back. And a government that squibbed its responsibility to the future.

I won’t be around in 50 years … so I won’t be able to reflect back on the Albanese Government. But I ask you to think about this:

What would Whitlam have achieved with a majority half the size of the majority held by the Albanese Government and with a near certainty of a third term from the outset of their second term?

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years #Albanese

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, where the Governor General (the Queen’s representative in Australia), Sir John Kerr, exercised the little known Reserve Powers to sack the democratically elected government of Gough Whitlam.

Whitlam’s Government is now more broadly remembered by the general population for its long list of reforms over the three years they were in government more than the manner of its ending. Those reforms rocketed Australia from a particularly sleepy and inward looking nation in the 1950s and 1960s toward a more outward looking and progressive nation in the 1970s.

I have tooted and retooted numerous articles about The Dismissal in the last week, so I will not be discussing all the details again.

Instead, I will keep it really simple.

What will people be thinking of the Albanese Government in 50 years from now? A government with an absolutely stonking majority, an almost certain third term and no effective opposition other than a rag tag bunch of independents.

I posit that the Albanese Government will likely be remembered as a government that pissed a great opportunity up against the wall, a government that was too scared of its own reflection to make any meaningful change. A government that purported to be progressive and reformist while doing none of those things. A government with tremendous opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change that addressed systemic problems which are holding Australia back. And a government that squibbed its responsibility to the future.

I won’t be around in 50 years … so I won’t be able to reflect back on the Albanese Government. But I ask you to think about this:

What would Whitlam have achieved with a majority half the size of the majority held by the Albanese Government and with a near certainty of a third term from the outset of their second term?

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years #Albanese

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, where the Governor General (the Queen’s representative in Australia), Sir John Kerr, exercised the little known Reserve Powers to sack the democratically elected government of Gough Whitlam.

Whitlam’s Government is now more broadly remembered by the general population for its long list of reforms over the three years they were in government more than the manner of its ending. Those reforms rocketed Australia from a particularly sleepy and inward looking nation in the 1950s and 1960s toward a more outward looking and progressive nation in the 1970s.

I have tooted and retooted numerous articles about The Dismissal in the last week, so I will not be discussing all the details again.

Instead, I will keep it really simple.

What will people be thinking of the Albanese Government in 50 years from now? A government with an absolutely stonking majority, an almost certain third term and no effective opposition other than a rag tag bunch of independents.

I posit that the Albanese Government will likely be remembered as a government that pissed a great opportunity up against the wall, a government that was too scared of its own reflection to make any meaningful change. A government that purported to be progressive and reformist while doing none of those things. A government with tremendous opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change that addressed systemic problems which are holding Australia back. And a government that squibbed its responsibility to the future.

I won’t be around in 50 years … so I won’t be able to reflect back on the Albanese Government. But I ask you to think about this:

What would Whitlam have achieved with a majority half the size of the majority held by the Albanese Government and with a near certainty of a third term from the outset of their second term?

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years #Albanese

Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal, where the Governor General (the Queen’s representative in Australia), Sir John Kerr, exercised the little known Reserve Powers to sack the democratically elected government of Gough Whitlam.

Whitlam’s Government is now more broadly remembered by the general population for its long list of reforms over the three years they were in government more than the manner of its ending. Those reforms rocketed Australia from a particularly sleepy and inward looking nation in the 1950s and 1960s toward a more outward looking and progressive nation in the 1970s.

I have tooted and retooted numerous articles about The Dismissal in the last week, so I will not be discussing all the details again.

Instead, I will keep it really simple.

What will people be thinking of the Albanese Government in 50 years from now? A government with an absolutely stonking majority, an almost certain third term and no effective opposition other than a rag tag bunch of independents.

I posit that the Albanese Government will likely be remembered as a government that pissed a great opportunity up against the wall, a government that was too scared of its own reflection to make any meaningful change. A government that purported to be progressive and reformist while doing none of those things. A government with tremendous opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change that addressed systemic problems which are holding Australia back. And a government that squibbed its responsibility to the future.

I won’t be around in 50 years … so I won’t be able to reflect back on the Albanese Government. But I ask you to think about this:

What would Whitlam have achieved with a majority half the size of the majority held by the Albanese Government and with a near certainty of a third term from the outset of their second term?

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years #Albanese

With the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal tomorrow, the article below is an interesting read that goes through a list of who would benefit from the removal of a democratically elected Whitlam Government while noting some of Whitlam’s personal strengths and short comings.

Worth a read.

——-
Quote:

In the case of the US, it took Whitlam no time at all to enrage both US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger with a letter criticising the bombing of North Vietnam at Christmas in 1972. While other nations’ leaders were equally critical, it was Whitlam’s style that aroused in the recipients a uniquely high level of fury. As Kissinger made clear, it was Whitlam’s air of moral superiority and placing the US “on the same level as our enemy” that caused the outrage. Kissinger reported that Nixon was also particularly exercised by “Australia treating the US on a par with other foreign countries”.
——-

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/1-mr-whitlams-style-series-part-1/

With the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal tomorrow, the article below is an interesting read that goes through a list of who would benefit from the removal of a democratically elected Whitlam Government while noting some of Whitlam’s personal strengths and short comings.

Worth a read.

——-
Quote:

In the case of the US, it took Whitlam no time at all to enrage both US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger with a letter criticising the bombing of North Vietnam at Christmas in 1972. While other nations’ leaders were equally critical, it was Whitlam’s style that aroused in the recipients a uniquely high level of fury. As Kissinger made clear, it was Whitlam’s air of moral superiority and placing the US “on the same level as our enemy” that caused the outrage. Kissinger reported that Nixon was also particularly exercised by “Australia treating the US on a par with other foreign countries”.
——-

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/1-mr-whitlams-style-series-part-1/

With the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal tomorrow, the article below is an interesting read that goes through a list of who would benefit from the removal of a democratically elected Whitlam Government while noting some of Whitlam’s personal strengths and short comings.

Worth a read.

——-
Quote:

In the case of the US, it took Whitlam no time at all to enrage both US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger with a letter criticising the bombing of North Vietnam at Christmas in 1972. While other nations’ leaders were equally critical, it was Whitlam’s style that aroused in the recipients a uniquely high level of fury. As Kissinger made clear, it was Whitlam’s air of moral superiority and placing the US “on the same level as our enemy” that caused the outrage. Kissinger reported that Nixon was also particularly exercised by “Australia treating the US on a par with other foreign countries”.
——-

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/1-mr-whitlams-style-series-part-1/

With the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal tomorrow, the article below is an interesting read that goes through a list of who would benefit from the removal of a democratically elected Whitlam Government while noting some of Whitlam’s personal strengths and short comings.

Worth a read.

——-
Quote:

In the case of the US, it took Whitlam no time at all to enrage both US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger with a letter criticising the bombing of North Vietnam at Christmas in 1972. While other nations’ leaders were equally critical, it was Whitlam’s style that aroused in the recipients a uniquely high level of fury. As Kissinger made clear, it was Whitlam’s air of moral superiority and placing the US “on the same level as our enemy” that caused the outrage. Kissinger reported that Nixon was also particularly exercised by “Australia treating the US on a par with other foreign countries”.
——-

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/1-mr-whitlams-style-series-part-1/

With the 50th anniversary of The Dismissal tomorrow, the article below is an interesting read that goes through a list of who would benefit from the removal of a democratically elected Whitlam Government while noting some of Whitlam’s personal strengths and short comings.

Worth a read.

——-
Quote:

In the case of the US, it took Whitlam no time at all to enrage both US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger with a letter criticising the bombing of North Vietnam at Christmas in 1972. While other nations’ leaders were equally critical, it was Whitlam’s style that aroused in the recipients a uniquely high level of fury. As Kissinger made clear, it was Whitlam’s air of moral superiority and placing the US “on the same level as our enemy” that caused the outrage. Kissinger reported that Nixon was also particularly exercised by “Australia treating the US on a par with other foreign countries”.
——-

#auspol #Whitlam #TheDismissal #50Years

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/1-mr-whitlams-style-series-part-1/

Below is a link to part two of John Menadue’s reflections on The Dismissal of the Whitlam Government on 11 November 1975 and worth a read.

——-
Quote:

One reason why the loans affair became such a political issue was that senior officers in Treasury leaked continually to the Opposition and the media about the loan raising. Treasury had chummy relations with companies like Morgan Stanley and didn’t want to upset such relationships. They also believed, genuinely, that the loan raising was bad policy. They were right on that, but by then Whitlam had stopped listening to them.
——-

#Auspol #TheDismissal #Whitlam #50Years

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/the-second-dismissal-the-loans-affair-and-meetings-with-kerr/

Auspol #GoughWhitlam #JohnMenadue #TheDismissal
#Zionism #TheLoansAffair #PinceKingCharles #PineGap
#ForeignInvestments #Power #TheLoansAffair

What would Whitlam think of the Albanese Government?
an interesting conversation between John Menadue and Bart Shteinman about whitlam’s style, compared to that of albanese
—-a mid length but rewarding read covering a range of topics

“John Menadue: On the American relationship, it would be very, very different. Whitlam showed his colours about a month after his election by criticising the American bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong. The Americans were terribly upset with that, because we were supposed to be a locked-in ally. People around the White House with Nixon were calling us — or at least the Australian Government, the prime minister — “North Vietnamese collaborators”. And there were some rude words that Nixon said about Whitlam – that they were “peaceniks” or worse!”

and
“Whitlam was the first person who explained to me the difference between Judaism and Zionism. As a young man I hadn’t appreciated the difference. He explained it to me, and it was quite a revelation.”
———
an interjection from maude:

incidentally, 🤔 iirc, israel in the 60s & 70s had the west’s sympathy (“remember the holocaust”, and Leon Uris books)… the reaction in 1978 after the oscars where Vanessa Redgrave spoke in favour of Palestine was huge

anyway, back to the article discussing whitlam and albanese
————-

“John Menadue: Most people would agree the politics of the Connor fundraising left a lot to be desired. It was messy, very difficult. Gough expressed a lack of confidence in Treasury and Treasury paid it back in spades, leaking a lot of information about the loan raising. So it was politically very damaging.
But what drove Rex Connor and was supported in the Labor Party generally was lost sight of in the whole “loans affair”. It was an attempt by the government to address the problem of foreign ownership of our resources. Now, around 80% of our resource industries are owned offshore: BHP, Rio Tinto, and so on, and Rex Connor was trying to head that off. Instead of selling off our companies, we would borrow but retain ownership in Australia. That would have been difficult to achieve, but that’s what drove Rex Connor, and most Australians would applaud that now.”

and
“We often hear Lord Acton: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” but it was Robert Caro who made the point that power reveals what people are really like…”

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/what-would-whitlam-think-of-the-albanese-government/

#Auspol #TheDismissal #WhitlamAndFraser #Kerr #Democracy
#MaintainingMyRage #11November1975 #WeHaveMorePowerThanTheyWantUsToBelieve

i don’t know where i was when kennedy was shot — we didn’t have a tv at home, and the radio in our house was strictly controlled by mother. kennedy’s assassination probably only rated a mention at school the next day because kennedy was a catholic. as an australian of a certain age, my kennedy moment was actually a dismissal moment.

on 11 nov 1975, i was working in a public service (key-to-tape) data centre with ?maybe 200 or so other data processors, and remember being shocked and outraged that a representative of the crown could/would sack a democratically elected government. i stood up and looked around, and my fellow workers seemed unconcerned. i asked one or two if they thought the dismissal was wrong, and they shrugged.

it took a very long time for details to seep out, and even longer for me to get a sense of how the dismissal had unfolded behind the scenes, so my sense of outrage at the time was probably due to a conviction that whitlam was the best thing since sliced bread as much as it was to a matter of principle… a sense that “they” are the reason we cannot have good things, and a feeling that “they” were unbeatable.

[i have since come to rely on the whitlam years as proof the system is not as rigged as “they” want us to believe. i draw immense hope from the fact whitlam’s government revolutionised life in australia, and after 50 years of desperately trying, “they” have still not managed to completely undo what he did, or completely return our expectations to a pre-whitlam baseline]

but the frogs in slowly boiling water metaphor makes a great deal of sense, and i fear australia could too easily become the USA — indeed, might already be the USA if not for the random accidents that gave us a different history

——-

Nikki Savva and David Solomon were closer to the action on the day of the dismissal, and in this article, discuss the events of that day;

“On whether a dismissal could happen again, both agree that while the same powers exist today, things have now changed. Solomon says:

All of the facts are still the same. It could happen. I don’t think it is likely […] I think the psyche of all the political parties was affected by what happened on November 11 and I think that they do not want it ever to happen again. It is one of those events that must be avoided at all costs.
In Savva’s view:

It would also need people of similar character to the main figures of the time, like a Whitlam, a Kerr, a Fraser, a [Reg] Withers [Leader of the opposition in the Senate]. And do any people like that exist in parliament today or at Government House? I don’t think so.”

——-

imo there are few people in parliament today with whitlam’s vision, or determination to put their values before politics, and we are poorer for that.

https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-niki-savva-and-david-solomon-on-the-dismissal-268884

The attached article is written by John Menadue, who was the head of The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet at the time of The Dismissal of the Whitlam Government on 11Novemer 1975, 50 years ago next week.

It makes a very interesting read from an insider’s perspective of what went on leading up to and on the day of The Dismissal and is worth a read.

#Auspol #TheDismissal #Whitlam #50Years

Edited to fix the 5- to 50

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11/ambush-and-deceit/

20 days to go. https://open.spotify.com/track/50Iv4ellwf03LrxUpz4nHo?si=ca25782916934572

#maintaintherage #itstime #thedismissal

gunna be interesting to see how Albo handles this.

20 days to go. https://open.spotify.com/track/50Iv4ellwf03LrxUpz4nHo?si=ca25782916934572

#maintaintherage #itstime #thedismissal

gunna be interesting to see how Albo handles this.

20 days to go. https://open.spotify.com/track/50Iv4ellwf03LrxUpz4nHo?si=ca25782916934572

#maintaintherage #itstime #thedismissal

gunna be interesting to see how Albo handles this.

20 days to go. https://open.spotify.com/track/50Iv4ellwf03LrxUpz4nHo?si=ca25782916934572

#maintaintherage #itstime #thedismissal

gunna be interesting to see how Albo handles this.

20 days to go. https://open.spotify.com/track/50Iv4ellwf03LrxUpz4nHo?si=ca25782916934572

#maintaintherage #itstime #thedismissal

gunna be interesting to see how Albo handles this.