Amongst other things, Bob Hawke said that the Whitlam government had failed to communicate with the electorate. Where have we heard that before?
Posts published in “Year: 1975”
Even in 1975, tabloid newspapers were strident in their views. This is how the Sunday Observer reacted to Whitlam's massive defeat in the December election.
This is a selection of audio clips from the 1975 Federal Election campaign.
The clips were first broadcast on radio and television programs during the election.
Front page of The Sun: Laurie Oakes reports that former leader Snedden and current leader Fraser disagreed about spending cuts.
Malcolm Fraser delivered the Liberal Party Policy Speech for the 1975 Federal Election in Melbourne on November 27.
The speech was delayed by two days due to Fraser being ill.
- Listen to audio of Fraser’s televised speech (30m)
Transcript of Caretaker Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s 1975 Election Policy Speech.
The Australian people face a historic decision on December 13.
On that day, we will be deciding the future of our country.
Let us all as Australians determine to restore prosperity, defeat inflation and provide jobs for all.
Let us all as Australians decide to reward initiative and encourage achievement.
Let us decide to realise at last the aspirations of all Australians for security, self-respect and for freedom to control our own lives.
This election results from the dishonesty and incompetence of the Whitlam Labor Government.
This is the audio of Country Party leader Doug Anthony’s policy speech for the 1975 Federal Election.
Anthony was Deputy Prime Minister in the caretaker Fraser administration, appointed following the Dismissal of the Whitlam government on November 11.
Gough Whitlam delivered his policy speech for the 1975 election at Melbourne’s Festival Hall on Monday, November 24.
- Listen to Whitlam’s speech in full
- Listen to the crowd chant ‘We Want Gough’
- Listen to Whitlam’s opening words
Men and Women of Australia,
The whole future of Australian democracy is in your hands.
The decision you make on 13 December goes far beyond who shall govern Australia for a few months or a few years. It goes to the heart of how Australia is to be governed into the Twenty-First Century.
Above all, Australia must be re-united – united about our basic faith in the value of Parliamentary democracy; as a means for change, and as a means for good government.
The shame of the past six weeks must be wiped away. In those shameful six weeks, a stacked Senate went on strike against a Budget vital to Australia’s welfare and the nation’s economy. The nation and the nation’s elected government were held to ransom. And by those means, the elected government in full command of the confidence of Parliament was deposed.
Is Australia to continue to be a Parliamentary democracy? Are we to have governments elected by the people, through the People’s House? Are elected governments to govern?
Text of a letter from the Queen's Private Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gordon Scholes.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gordon Scholes, wrote to the Queen on November 12 expressing alarm about the actions of the Governor-General. Scholes was the ALP member for Corio, in Victoria. He was first elected at a by-election on July 22, 1967, following the retirement of the Liberal…
These audio clips cover some of the key moments of the constitutional crisis from October 15 through to November 12, 1975.
All of these clips appear on individual posts that provide more detailed information on the events in question.
The clips are provided here for quick access.