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Posts published in November 1985

Future Directions For Reform In Australia

November 15, 1985

This is the text of Gough Whitlam’s John Curtin Memorial Lecture on the 10th anniversary of Whitlam’s dismissal.

It was delivered at the University of Western Australia, in Perth.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR REFORM IN AUSTRALIA

Achieving Government through the House of Representatives Majority

Gough WhitlamThis is the fourth time I have delivered, a Curtin Memorial Lecture and the third time at this University.

Here, in February 1961 I spoke on “Socialism Within the Constitution”; in July 1972, also here, I spoke on “Urbanised Australia”; and in October 1975, at the Australian National University, I spoke at the height of the great crisis which culminated in my Government’s dismissal on 11 November. My topic then was “Government of the people, for the people, by the people’s house”. Now in this, my fourth Curtin Memorial Lecture, delivered in the year which marks the 100th anniversary of John Curtin’s birth, I speak on future directions for reform in Australia.

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The National Remembers The Whitlam Dismissal And Talks To Albert Patrick Field

November 11, 1985

This is a video of The National’s coverage of the tenth anniversary of the Whitlam Dismissal.

In 1985, the ABC had replaced its nightly television news and current affairs half-hour with a bizarre program called The National, which attempted to combine news and analysis in one package. Naturally, it didn’t last.

The National didn’t manage to secure an interview with Gough Whitlam, even though he gave multiple interviews to other networks and programs.

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Whitlam Addresses The National Press Club On The Dismissal’s 10th Anniversary

November 11, 1985

Gough Whitlam addressed the National Press Club on November 11, 1985, ten years to the day since he was dismissed from office by Sir John Kerr.

WhitlamThe occasion also coincided with the launch of Whitlam’s new book, The Whitlam Government 1972-1975.

Whitlam had returned to Australia, on leave from his position in Paris as Australian Ambassador to UNESCO, the post to which he had been appointed by the Hawke government in 1983.

In his speech, Whitlam canvassed a wide range of issues, including the constitutional crisis of 1975. He damned Kerr for hid handling of what Whitlam said was a “political crisis” that was likely to resolve itself within days, if not hours.

The video of this National Press Club appearance is notable for its portrayal of Whitlam ten years after his government ended and seven years after he left parliament.

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Ten Years On, Channel 9’s Sunday Program Remembers The Dismissal

November 10, 1985

Ten years after the Dismissal, Gough Whitlam returned to Australia to launch his new book on the Whitlam Government.

Sunday

Whitlam was on leave from his posting as Ambassador to UNESCO, the job he was given by the Hawke Labor government after it won the 1983 election.

As part of the media coverage of the 10th anniversary of the Dismissal, Channel 9’s Sunday program devoted an entire program to reviewing the Whitlam years. The complete video of the program is available on this page.

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