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Posts published in “Fraser”

Malcolm Fraser’s Whitlam Oration

June 6, 2012

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser has delivered the 2012 Whitlam Oration to the Whitlam Institute in Sydney.

Malcolm Fraser

Nearly thirty-seven years after the Fraser-led coalition parties blocked the Budget and Sir John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam government, Fraser remarked that in the 1970s “few people would have believed that Malcolm Fraser would be delivering a Gough Whitlam oration”.

Fraser, 82, spoke mainly about foreign policy and international politics, and issues concerning race, immigration and refugees.

MOREMalcolm Fraser’s Whitlam Oration

Santamaria’s Role In The Dismissal

January 6, 2007

Bartholomew Augustine Santamaria wrote a speech justifying the blocking of Supply for then Opposition Leader Malcolm Fraser in September 1975, according to The Australian newspaper.

B.A. SantamariaThe paper’s political editor, Dennis Shanahan, writes that the speech “is styled as if it were written by Mr. Fraser and says the Opposition should breach the conventions of the Constitution if not doing so “endangers the future of Australia”.

The speech, entitled “Govern or Get Out”, is contained in Santamaria’s papers, now held by the State Library of Victoria. The speech was sent to Fraser on September 18, 1975.

MORESantamaria’s Role In The Dismissal

Has Malcolm Changed?

January 5, 2002

After years of being hated by the ALP and those on the Left of the political spectrum, Malcolm Fraser’s public persona underwent a significant change during the 1990s.

Fraser was a supporter of a Republic, a critic of globalisation, and urged scepticism towards our alliance with the United States. He joined with Gough Whitlam to oppose media ownership regulations.

Most notably, he became an active supporter of Aboriginal Reconciliation and Native Title, and a critic of the Howard government over issues such as Manadatory Sentencing, the Stolen Generations and Refugees.

Pilita Clark, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, analysed the changes in perceptions of Fraser.

[Extracts from “The Winter Of My Malcontent”, by Pilita Clark, January 5, 2002, Sydney Morning Herald.]

..We grew up amid the bucolic charms of south-west Victoria and for all of my formative years our local member was Malcolm Fraser.

I was reminded of this when I returned at Christmas to the family home, where one of my brothers was waiting to give me a highly singular gift.

MOREHas Malcolm Changed?

Whitlam: The Coup Twenty Years After

November 8, 1995

This is the text of Gough Whitlam’s Address to the National Press Club on the 20th anniversary of The Dismissal.

Mr President, Citizens

It’s always a great pleasure for me to return to the National Press Club, not only because of our long association but because of its importance as a forum. In my time, the party leaders wound up their campaigns here. Now, Labor Prime Ministers use the lunch to launch policies and Liberal leaders to launch themselves.

There must have been a certain inevitability in my being invited back around the time of the 20th anniversary of 11 November 1975. Media interest has been intense and I have had to limit my acceptance of requests for interviews and articles. One of the reasons, frankly, is that I am not preoccupied with the Dismissal. My chief interest in the events of October/November 1975, dramatic as they were, now lies in their relevance to the development of Australia as a Republic. That makes it doubly important that the Australian public should have an accurate understanding of those events and the motives of those who took part in them.

MOREWhitlam: The Coup Twenty Years After

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.

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

Malcolm Fraser’s 1975 Election Policy Speech

November 27, 1975

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.

FraserThe 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.

MOREMalcolm Fraser’s 1975 Election Policy Speech

Fraser Says Blocking Supply Is Justified By Economic Circumstances And Government Scandals

October 19, 1975

Like Whitlam, Opposition Leader Malcolm Fraser did the rounds of the Sunday television shows on Sunday, October 19, 1975.

He defended the blocking of Supply on Channel 7’s This Week program. The program was hosted by Brian Naylor. The interview was conducted by Dan Webb and Tom Worland.

Fraser argued that economic circumstances and the Loans Affair scandals justified the blocking of Supply.

MOREFraser Says Blocking Supply Is Justified By Economic Circumstances And Government Scandals
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