The conspiracy that brought down the Whitlam Government in the 1975 dismissal

Editor-at-large of The Australian, Paul Kelly looks back at the most profound crisis in Australia’s democracy, including the off-the-record information he was given five days before it took place.

In 1975 Paul was a young press gallery journalist, working in the cramped old Parliament House, where all it took was a flight of stairs and a few steps to find himself in the Prime Minister’s office.

Paul was on close terms with both Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser when Australia faced the biggest crisis in its political history.

Five days before the dismissal, Paul was told — off the record — that the Governor General, Sir John Kerr, was going to sack the Whitlam Government, but Paul was sworn to secrecy and had to stand back and watch the fallout like everyone else.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the political upheaval, and Paul looks back at his insider’s experience in the press gallery from that tumultuous time.

Further information

This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.

This episode explores remembrance day 2025, government shutdown, paul kelly, democracy in crisis, conspiracy, gough whitlam, whitlam, whitlam government, malcolm fraser, john kerr, constitutional crisis, election, it's time, no fault divorce, free university, women's rights, women's lib, medibank, great barrier reef, healthcare, old parliament house, press gallery, old school journo, power, journalism, mungo mccallum, graham freudenberg, killing season and dismissal.

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