Buckingham Palace gave Sir John Kerr clear guidance he could use controversial 'reserve powers' to break a deadlock in Australian politics one week before he cited the powers to sack Gough Whitlam and his government
Sir Martin told Sir John on September 24 of legal authorities that said it was "constitutionally proper" to dissolve Parliament if a budget supply bill was blocked, and he emphasised the reserve powers in a letter on November 4.
Monash University professor Jenny Hocking said the Palace advice was "totally improper" and countered Sir Martin's public claim after the dismissal that the Queen had played "no part" in the events. Former prime minister John Howard, a Liberal frontbencher at the time of the dismissal, countered those arguments by saying the letters highlighted what was being discussed in public."The use of reserve powers was being canvassed publicly at the time. The palace behaved with complete propriety.
Writing to the Palace on the day of the dismissal, Sir John said he had chosen not to tell the Queen he would dismiss Mr Whitlam.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Palace letters reveal Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam without informing the QueenIt's been revealed Sir John Kerr did not tell the Queen of his intention to dismiss then-prime minister Gough Whitlam before the historic decision on 11 November, 1975.
Read more »
'Palace letters' reveal Sir John Kerr sacked Gough Whitlam before telling the QueenA first look at the newly released 'Palace letters' reveals then governor-general Sir John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam government before telling the Queen, because 'it was better for Her Majesty not to know'.
Read more »
'Palace letters' to show what Queen knew about Whitlam dismissalThe &x27;Palace letters&x27; - correspondence between the Queen and Australian governor-general Sir John Kerr in the lead-up to the Whitlam government&x27;s dismissal - will be released to the public later today.
Read more »
Governor-General's intentions to dismiss Whitlam 'likely known to the palace' | Sky News AustraliaPolitical Consultant Jim Middleton says it is likely the Palace was aware Sir John Kerr wanted to dismiss Gough Whitlam.\n\nPrivate letters between Queen Elizabeth II and former Governor-General Sir John Kerr were released on Tuesday revealing Sir John dismissed then-prime minister Gough Whitlam without first informing the Queen. \n\nThe National Archives released more than 1,000 pages of documents from Mr Whitlam’s 1975 dismissal, including much sought-after correspondence between the Governor-General and Buckingham Palace. \n\n“I decided to take the step I took without informing the Palace in advance … it was better for Her Majesty NOT to know,' one of the letters penned by Sir John Kerr reads.\n\nMr Middleton said it was ‘unsurprising’ Sir John Kerr withheld his decision to act from the palace because the palace seemed to know such a dismissal was possible.\n\n“What we see in the palace papers so far … is that they were well aware it was on his mind and indeed there was communication between the palace and Sir John Kerr about this very matter,” he said.\n\n“The palace also knew that Sir John Kerr feared that Gogh Whitlam would sack him.”\n\nMr Middleton said the dismissal demonstrates an imbalance in the relationship between the governor-general, the Queen and the elected prime minister of Australia, and wonders whether the place should have given warning to Mr Whitlam. \n\n“On this occasion, the Queen chose to do and observe what her appointed representative wanted rather than what Australia’s elected Prime Minister desired,” he said. \n\n“Constitutionally, should the palace have informed Gogh Whitlam that their appointed representative the governor-general was worried about being sacked by the prime minister? \n\n“Should they have been informing him that dismissal was an option in some form or another?” \n
Read more »
Queen's role revealed but Palace denies any part in Whitlam dismissalBuckingham Palace gave Sir John Kerr clear guidance he could use controversial “reserve powers” to break a deadlock in Australian politics one week before he cited the powers to sack Gough Whitlam and his government | CroweDM
Read more »
The Palace letters are every bit the bombshell they promised to beThe Palace letters have proved to be every bit the bombshell they promised, and neither the Queen nor Sir John Kerr emerge unscathed, writes Jenny Hocking. | OPINION
Read more »