Australia and the Vietnam War

Communism
 the political theory or system in which all property and wealth is owned in a classless society
by all the members of that society
 Communal ownership, economic resources owned by government, not individuals.
 Karl Marx – classless society.
Capitalism
 ‘Free enterprise’ system, owned by individuals.
 Driven by private sector businesses, consumers and government regulations.
 Prone to economic malfunctions.
 Uneven distribution of wealth.
Cold War
 US vs. USSR(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), Communist vs. Capitalist. There was only
political disagreement and preparation for war, no actual fighting.
Domino Effect
The belief that if a country fell to communism, so would all of its neighbours. This process would
repeat, causing the inevitable spread of communism across the globe. This was a belief in line with
communism being a “monolithic threat”.
Fear of Communism
1. Caused by the public’s view of communism as a inevitable force / war machine (that the Liberal
govt. encouraged) as well as the fact that the public did not have a large knowledge base on what
communism was, other than that it was bad. This was caused by lack of information, misinformation,
and government propaganda.
2. As mentioned above, the Liberal government encouraged the intensity and spread of this fear,
and utilised it to sway public opinion in their favour.

Korean War
1. (1950) Nth Korea (communist) invades South Korea (non-communist)
2. Allies see this invasion as a communist threat, and send troops to Korea to prevent “another
domino falling”
3. This invasion reinforces the western idea of communism as a monolithic machine that is slowly
taking over the world.
Communist North Korea invaded South on June 25 1950. They were backed by Soviet Russia, and
invaded on the belief that the United States had lost interest in the South.

The United Nations sent a peacekeeping force to protect South Korea, which consisted of 17
countries including Australia, the US and the UK. When they arrived, only around 10% of Korea was
left that was not Communist. However, the UN forces succeeded in restoring South Korea, and
negotiated a peace deal with the north in 1953.
ANZUS Treaty of 1951
1. Australian and New Zealand and United States.
2. A major step in establishing Australian security and defence.
3. Australia, New Zealand and the United States agreed to aid each other in the event of an attack
4. NZ later stepped out of the treaty after refusing to provide port to American nuclear armed ships
(America has a policy of never confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons onboard
naval vessels, and NZ has a strict anti-nuclear policy)
Australia, New Zealand and United States. To stop the spread of Communism, and of course,
Australia's desire to ally with a "great and powerful friend", they signed the treaty. This also gave the
western powers a very strong position in the Pacific.
Referendum to Ban the Communist Party
1. Fear of communism becomes so broad and intense that it becomes an election issue in 1949
2. Robert Menzies (Liberal Party Leader) pledges to bring in legislation to ban Australia’s communist
party
3. To do this, the Liberal Party introduces the Communist Dissolution Bill (1950)
4. The Bill was not passed as it was deemed unconstitutional to threaten freedom by assuming
someone is guilty of being a communist until proven innocent.
5. The Bill is challenged by 10 different Trade Unions, and the Communist Party
6. Menzies instead goes to the public, putting forward a referendum to ban the Communist Party
7. Fear of communism now versus the unconstitutional method of restricting freedom. As a result,
2,317,927 vote for, but 2,370,009 votes against at the referendum on 22 September 1951.
Petrov Affair
1. (1954) Robert Menzies’ 3 year term as PM is coming to an end, and a public poll shows people are
now more worried about Australia’s economy than of communism
2. Soviet official, Vladmir Petrov arrives in Australia seeking political asylum, and hands over
documents containing information on soviet spy networks in Australia
3. This ignites the fear of communism in the Australian again.
4. Doc Evatt (Labor) believes this is just a trick by the Liberal Government (Liberal – being very right
wing – used the fear of communism to gain a position in government) to redirect favour to the
Liberal government. If there is no fear of communism, then Liberal loses one of its main methods of
gaining favour.
5. Labor lose, and are seen as communist sympathizers. They split and form the Democratic Labor
Party (DLP) who vows to take an even stronger stance against communism.
Vladimir and Eva Petrov were sent as "Diplomats". FYI, they were actually spies. They were sent to
establish a network in both political parties, and eventually turn some politicians to communism.
However, Vlad was a little too appreciative of Australia, and failed to complete his task. However,
instead of returning home, he sought refuge in Aus via political asylum.

Communists came, and took Eva away, presumably back to the other side of the Iron Curtain.
However, in Darwin, she became separated from her captors, and was asked if she wished for
political asylum. She said yes, and they hid her away. The captors left and she gained political
asylum.
SEATO Treaty of 1954
1. Provided a matrix structure of defence and aid between the following countries; US, NZ, South
Vietnam, Britain, Thailand, Cambodia, France, Philippines, Laos, Australia, Pakistan.
2. Similar to ANZUS, but with more countries/members.
Mostly symbolic, because one country had the power to block a majority vote. i.e., SEATO did not
intervene in Vietnam as France and the Philippines objected.
Vietnam War
Why did we get involved?
• Decided to go in the first half of 1962, following a request from the South Vietnamese government,
we were involved until 1972
• About 47 000 men went
• Followed the US into the war (not England and not because of ‘Nam)
• Menzies asked the US to ‘get involved’
• Menzies – ‘I subscribe to the Domino Theory’ – fear of the ‘yellow peril’
• Harold Holt (elected 1964) indicated that we would ‘Go all the way with LBJ (Lyndon Baines
Johnson, US president)

How did various groups respond to our involvement in the war?

• Pacifists could lodge a ‘conscientious objection’
• Mass demonstrations of men who refused to go
• Protests by university students
• Vietnam moratoriums – 1970
• Youth against Conscription
• SOS – 1964
• Labor Leader/party
• Religious groups
• Communist Party
• The Petrov affair

Important Political Figures

• Bill Hayden said it wouldn’t make any difference to the threat of communism if we pulled out of
Vietnam – wanted to concentrate on China. He didn’t believe in the Domino Theory
• Arthur Calwell, Leader, said it wasn’t a wise decision and wouldn’t help the war.
• Jim Cairns, organiser of the Moratorium Movement was against the killing of the Vietnamese and
the death of the Australians.
• Every American and LBJ are with Australia all the way - Lyndon Baines Johnson
• Harold Holt – ‘Go all the way with LBJ’
America’s Involvement
1. Australia was allied with America after WWII, and connected with them via ANZUS and SEATO.
2. America became involved in the war, and in order to maintain an alliance in good faith, Australia
followed.
Forward Defence
1. Australia believed that communism would eventually arrive on our doorstep due to the domino
effect.
2. Rather than fight it on their own turf, Australia set up a “forward defence” in Vietnam by sending
troops there, hoping to stem the flow of communist forces.
S.O.S.
1. A movement formed by the mothers of those who were conscripted
2. Stands for Save Our Sons
3. Unlike other protests, SOS focused almost entirely on the issue of conscription.
Vietnam Veterans
1. Any soldier who returned from the war in Vietnam
2. Vets suffered Post Traumatic Stress syndrome, ranging other psychological handicaps, and
physical disabilities
3. Soldiers would come back with missing limbs, internal damage, as well as a range of other
disabilities (i.e. spinal damage resulting in quadriplegia)
4. Almost all Vets, physically damaged or not, suffered psychological damage
The Moratoriums
1. Hundreds of thousands of people getting together in a march against the war in Vietnam
2. Would be comprised of citizens from all over, of different races, beliefs, etc.
3. On occasion the Moratoriums would turn anti-authority, becoming violent, often ending in mass
arrests.
Pro War Groups
Groups like the Liberal Government, and the RSL (Returned Service League) supported the war at
first, although they opposed it afterwards, and didn’t see the Vietnam vets as being true servicemen.
Anti War Groups
Uni students, conscientious objectors, the general public (Vietnam being the first televised war) and
the Labor Government a People Power and Politics in the Post war Period

History of Vietnam
 1858 – French control.
 1939-45 – Japanese control.
 French returned guerrilla resistance.
 Communist forces led by Ho Chi Minh in North take control.
 1954 – Geneva agreement that a North and South zone had established.
 French withdraw to South
 Vietminh to North
 Vietcong were guerrillas in the South
 President Diem in South was assassinated, so US sent support troops
 Vietcong was supported by locals (sabotage, shelter, food etc)
 Mountain terrain, jungle and bad weather disadvantaged US and Australia
 Chemical warfare affected civilians
Australia and the Vietnam War
 By late 1964 it was clear that the communists were on the point of taking South Vietnam.
 US President Johnson decided that only fierce American intervention could prevent this.
 Australian Foreign Minister, Paul Hasbruck, was actively encouraging the US to take a stand
against communism.
 In November 1964 the Menzies government introduced conscription, aiming to increase the
size of the army 37,500 in these years.
 At 20 years of age all Australian men had to register for National Service.
 To be conscripted, a man’s birthday had to be drawn out of a barrel.
 If your number was drawn, you had to serve for 2 years.
 There was a 1 in 10 chance of being conscripted.
 National Service could be avoided by conscientious objection or by being a student.
 Menzies told Johnson that Australia was willing to commit troops.
 South Vietnam didn’t want Allied help.
  Throughout April 1965 American and Australian Diplomats in Saigon pressured the South
Vietnamese government to issue an invitation to help it against the communists.
 They agreed on 28th April.
 Australia participated 1962-72
 47,000 Australians served.
 Reason: fear of communism, this was caused by the war in Korea.

Group Influenced by the Vietnam War – Veterans

 50,190 Australians served
 424 died
 3000 wounded
 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
 Anger Orange – Birth abnormalities, cancer
 Wounded – disability
 Vietnam Veterans association
 Educate at schools
 Work for better conditions for Vets and families.
 Bitterness, high suicide rates
 Unemployed
 High crime rates
 Drug dependency
 High divorce rates
 1983 Hawke Labor Government appointed a Royal Commission into the effects of defoliants
 In August 2007, the government pledged $3.5 million to a study about the health of Vietnam
children.

Miscellaneous
 First war the US lost
 280 journalists died reporting
 South Vietnamese fought more than the US
 US soldiers had 35kg of equipment, very loud, easily avoided; smelt easily – aftershave
cigarettes etc.
 Hard to tell who they were fighting, many didn’t understand why
Vietnamisation – end of the war US taught South Vietnamese to fight by themselves and gave them
equipment etc, Richard Nixon

Changing Rights and Freedoms

How have the rights and freedoms of migrants changed during the post-WW2 period?
 Assimilation -> Integration -> Multiculturalism
 Dictation test abolished 1958
 Australia now accepts more migrants than just English-speaking Europeans.
 Assimilation: Migrants were expected to drop their culture and language and become true
Australians. This policy failed; as more and more migrants came they began forming groups
in which they could continue their original cultures. From this, the concept of
multiculturalism became accepted, which ultimately contributed to a rich culture in
Australian living.
 Many had to accept low-paying labour work in infrastructure, even if they were highly
qualified.
 From 1950’s to 1970’s, Australia shaped itself from a country that did exclude migrants to
one that accepted them.
  Two “Wongs” don’t make a “White” – Arthur Calwell stated that all refugees who came to
Australia during the war who were not eligible for citizenship would have to leave.

Changing Patterns of Migration 1945 – 2000

 Change due to economy, defence, needed more population, global humanitarian crisis
 Australia needed to justify its existence to its northern neighbours.
 Needed larger workforce and defence force.
 Department of Immigration established in the 1945 Chifley Government – Minister of
Immigration was Arthur Calwell
 “Bring out a Briton” campaign.
 From: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, (1947), Malta (1948), Netherlands (1951), West Germany,
Austria, Greece (1952), Spain (1958)
 By the 1960’s, Australia had 250,000 immigrants.
 White Australia Policy abandoned.
 1958 Migration Act – 1966 agreement that entry was decided by the migrants ability to
integrate into Australian society.
 Millions of migrants came into the country and started families. With them they brought
many different cultures, foods, fashion, art forms and literature.
 Also acted as consumers, contributing to the economy
 There was more labour for infrastructure and resources (1964 Port Kembla Steelworks)
 Assimilation failed, and in the late 1960s this policy was changed to integration of migrants.
 1973, both British migrants and aliens had to take an oath of allegiance to Australia before
becoming citizens.
 By 1975, the population had increased by 6.3 million in 30 years.
 Gough Whitlam introduced the Multiculturalism policy.
Timeline:
• 1945 – Established Department of Immigrants – Minister was Calwell
• 1947 – 12 000 refugees per year from the Baltic States
• 1949 – newly elected Menzies government allowed 800 Asian refugees to remain in Australia. Also,
any European immigrants under 45 years and anti communist – 2 million came in 20 years
• 1956 – 14 000 Hungarian anti communism refugees
• 1958 – a change to the Migration Act abolished the dictation test
• by 1960s – 250 000 immigrants
• 1966 – new policy that accepted migrants on their ability to make a contribution to Australian
society.
• 1973 – Whitlam Labor government abolished the White Australia Policy
• 1970s – 90 000 Indochinese communism refugees
• 1980s – tens of thousands of SE Asian refugees
• 1990s – flow of migrants including Hong Kong

Changing Rights and Freedoms of Aborigines

Aboriginal Timeline

 1890-1940 – Protectionism
o Attitude of paternalism towards the ‘uncivilised’ and ‘inferior’ aboriginal people.
‘Fatherly’ control for people that couldn’t make decisions for themselves. It was
believed they would be improved by European ways.
 o In 1909 the Aborigines Protection Act was passed in NSW, Aboriginal people were
forced to live on reserves.
o Children were removed from their homes and trained as servants or farm labourers.
o Managers of reserves controlled money, distributed blankets and clothing (on loan)
and had custody of Aboriginal children. They had total control over where people
resided.
o All marriages had to be approved.
o Segregation
o Christianity was imposed up them, Aboriginal spirituality was ill defined and pagan.
 Stolen Generation 1909-69, mostly <5, half caste, isolated.
o Mid 1920’s beginnings of activism and protest, e.g. AAPA Australian Aborigines
Progressive Association, many thought it was in the best interests of the children
 1938 Day of Mourning, 26th January, 150th Anniversary of First Fleet landing. Protest march
led by William Cooper in Sydney in Australian Hall, Elizabeth St, refused from Sydney Hall,
demanded land rights and equality.
 1938-1960s Assimilation – Aboriginals expected to forget their culture and behave like
Europeans, could only get low paying manual labour jobs.
 1962 – Aborigines had the right to vote – 90% voted yes
 1964 – Charles Perkin’s Freedom Ride – 12th February, bus from Sydney to an RSL in
Lismore, Kempsey that Aborigines were refused from. 30 white university students tried to
end segregation.
 1966; Charles Perkins leads Freedom Ride through western NSW protesting discrimination,
segregation in places such as swimming pools and living conditions
 1967 – Referendum – included in the census.
 1960-1970s Integration
 1972< - Tent Embassy – In front of Old Parliament House, awareness for rights, first
unveiling of Aboriginal flag. Law passed to prohibit camping in front of Parliament house,
police couldn’t take them away, and violent resistance and they kept coming back. Lots of
media coverage. The Embassy presented a list of demands to Parliament:
- Control of the Northern Territory as a State within the Commonwealth of Australia;
the parliament in the Northern Territory to be predominantly Aboriginal with title
and mining rights to all land within the Territory.
- Legal title and mining rights to all other presently existing reserve lands and
settlements throughout Australia.
- The preservation of all sacred sites throughout Australia.
- Legal title and mining rights to areas in and around all Australian capital cities.
- Compensation monies for lands not returnable to take the form of a down-
payment of six billion dollars and an annual percentage of the gross national income.
 1972< Self Determination
 1981< Reconciliation – 27th May-3rd June
 1984 - End of various "protection acts", which had existed since 1897 in Queensland. Under
these laws Aboriginal people were effectively slave labourers; the wages for their labour
were stolen by the State or never even claimed by the State from the employers. The issue
of reparation is still unresolved.
 1987 – Royal Commission, deaths in custody
 1992 – Eddie Mabo – 10 year case for land rights, Coastal Act was invalid because of Racial
Discrimination Act. 1993 Native Title Act, created a school for black children, abolished terra
nullius. Eddie Mabo (1936–21 January 1992, campaigned for indigenous land rights and
played a significant role in a landmark decision of the High Court of Australia that overturned
 the legal fiction of terra nullius which characterised Australian law with regards to land and
title.) commences proceedings in the High Court of Australia.
 1993 – Native Title Act
 1994 – Wiki Decision – Tribal people forced off land for agricultural and residential
purposes. Some put in missions, many escapes, some became part of the stolen generation.
Protested and won their case.
 2000 – Corroboree Bridge Walk – May 26th, 250,000 people participated, largest group
demonstration for Aboriginal rights, broadcasted on SBS.
 2007 – NT intervention
 2008 – Apology to stolen generation – February, live broadcast on all channels in Australia,
turned backs on opposition, Brendon Nelson.

Australia as a Global Citizen

Global Citizenship: is both moral and ethical disposition which might guide an individual or groups'
understanding of the local and global contexts — and their relative responsibilities within different
communities.
The United Nations:
 The San Francisco Conference in April 1945 is where the United Nations was set up
 Replaced League of Nations, Post WWII over 165 member countries
 The United Nations is an international organisation created to promote world peace &
cooperation (after WW2 and the failure of the League of Nations). Member nations pledge
to settle their disputes peacefully, to refrain from using force or the threat of force against
other countries and to refuse help to an y country that opposes UN actions
 The UN is open to any country willing to further the UN mission and abide by its rules. Each
country has an equal voice and vote
 As of 2006, the UN has 192 members including nearly every country in the world
 The UN has several major bodies
o General Assembly: All member nations are represented. Makes general policy
decisions and economic decisions.
o Security Council: makes ongoing decisions about world security. Has the military
power to enforce its decision
 Five countries have power to veto actions proposed by the council (veto
means “I forbid”). These countries are US, Russia, Britain, France and China.
 Other member nations are non-permanent (rotating)
o UN Commissions: Have important functions in drawing up charters or agreements
that member nations are urged to sign. Include organisations such as Commission on
Human Rights and United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
o The Secretariat: This is responsible for the day to day running of the UN. IT is a body
of international civil servants who administer the many agencies. In charge of the
Secretariat is the Secretary – General, the chief official of the UN and its world
spokesperson.

Key Developments in Australia’s role in the UN:

 Australia was a founder in the United Nations and played a major role in drafting the United
Nations charter
 Dr Evatt (Australian) argued forcefully that the voice of small nations should be heard
 1945 – Feminist Jessie Street helped to include in the Charter of Human Rights a belief in
equality between men and women.
 1947 – Australia’s Military advisers were first sent UN peacekeepers serving in Indonesia
 1948 – Dr Evatt elected president of UN general Assembly
  Since then Australia has been involved in the foundation of many organisation (e.g. UNESCO)
and has also signed and ratified conventions (e.g. Kyoto, Declaration of Human Rights)

An Achievement of Australia in its role within the UN

 Peace keeping in East Timor
o The UN set up UNMET (United Nations Mission in East Timor) to organise and
conduct the ‘popular consultation’ in 1999.
o The Australia Electoral Commission (AEC) provided significant support in planning
and implementation
o The result of the ‘popular consultation’ was the East Timor wanted to begin a
transition to independence (prior to this there had been much conflict as it had been
under military occupation. 183 000 East Timorese killed)
o During and after the vote a period of great unrest occurred, including widespread
murder, violence, and arson and looting by pro-integration militias, at times with the
support of the Indonesian security forces.
o In view of the situation the UN authorised and international peacekeeping force, led
by Australia.
o INTERFET (international Force East Timor) comprised 11000 troops, 5000 of them
from Australia
o It was led by Major General Peter Cosgrove
o The force arrived on 20 September 1999
o Oversaw the withdrawal of Indonesian troops, disarming of pro-Indonesian militia
and the return of refugees from West Timor
o In October 1999 the AEC (in collaboration with the UN) undertook a major program
to enhance the ability of the East Timorese to organise their own elections after
independence
o In 2002 UNMSET (United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor) was established
to provide assistance to core administrative structures in East Timor and to provide
interim law enforcement and public security, to assist the developing of the East
Timor Police Service, and to contribute to the maintenance of the new country’s
external and internal security. Australia contributed civilian and military police to
this mission.

Australia’s Regional Agreements and their purpose:

 Colombo Plan
o Signed in 1951
o Original Members: Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, NZ, Britain, Malaysia, and
North Borneo
o Purpose:
 ‘planning prosperity together’
 Raising the standard of living in less-developed member nations through
donations of aid by wealthier ones
 APEC
o Signed in 1989
o Members: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Republic of the Philippines, The Russian Federation,
Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, Vietnam
o Purpose:
  Facilitating economic growth, prosperity, cooperation, trade and investment
in the Asia-Pacific region
Creating an environment for the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people across
borders in the region

ANZUS: 1951, Australia, NZ, US

 To support each other if faced by armed attack and develop strategies to help each other
resist this.
 Formalised alliances and meant that Australian troops would go overseas to cut off the
expansion of communism.
 Continues today but the NZ has no part with US because of a disagreement about US
warships with radioactive material in NZ ports.

SEATO: 1954, Australia, Britain, France, NZ, Pakistan, Thailand, USA.

 To protect countries in South-East Asia and the pacific that felt threatened by communism.
SEATO was dissolved in 1977. Strengthened alliances.

Colombo Plan – 1951 Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, NZ, Britain, Malaysia and North Borneo.
 “Planning prosperity together”
 Raising standards of living in less developed countries through donations of aid, originally
just for Asian commonwealth, but spread.

Gough Whitlam

* Gough Whitlam joined the Australian Labor Party in 1945.

* In 1972, he was elected the first Labor Prime Minister in 23 years.
Policies: Whitlam came to office claiming a mandate for a wide-ranging program of social reforms. In
a whirlwind of activity the government:
 Ended conscription and withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam.
 Implemented equal pay for women.
 Launched an inquiry into education and funded government and non-government schools
on a needs basis.
 Established a separate ministry responsible for aboriginal affairs and supported the idea of
land rights.
 Recast our foreign policy by withdrawing support for South Africa, recognising China, and
granting independence to Papua-New Guinea and distancing Australia from USA foreign
policy.
 Abolished tertiary education fees and established the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme.
 Increased pensions.
 Established a universal system of health insurance known as Medibank.
 Established controls on foreign ownership of Australian resources.
 Passed the Family Law Act, establishing no-fault divorce.
 Passed a series of laws banning racial and sexual discrimination.
 Extended maternity leave and benefits for single mothers.
 Sought to democratise the electoral system by introducing one-vote-one-value.
On Tuesday November 11th, 1975, the Governor-General of Australia, Sir John Kerr, dismissed Mr
Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister and appointed Mr Malcolm Fraser as a caretaker Prime Minister.
The dismissal was the most dramatic event in the history of the Australian federation. For the first
time, an unelected vice-regal representative had removed from office a government which
commanded a majority in the House of Representatives. The dismissal of the Whitlam Labor
Government was the culmination of a series of dramatic events which began in October, 1975 with
the refusal by the Senate to pass the government's budget bills.
A Double Dissolution (the shutting down or dissolution of both houses of Parliament and the calling
of an election for all members and senators. The Governor-General calls a double dissolution at the
request of the Prime Minister) election was held on December 13th, 1975, at which the Whitlam
Government was soundly defeated.
GOOD
 Slogan “It’s Time”
 Abolished Uni fees
 Abolished White Australia Policy (1973)
 Ended National Service and released “draft dodgers” from prison
 Made divorce easier
 Replace God Save the Queen with Advance Australia Fair
 Reduced foreign investment in Australia
 Increased spending on education
 Increased Funding for the arts
 Increased funding for Social Welfare
 Anti discrimination laws
 Recognised the people’s Republic of China
 Supported decolonisation in Papua New Guinea
 Introduced Medibank
 Beginnings for environmental sustainability
 Support for migrants
 Stopped mining on Aboriginal Lands
 Opposed French Nuclear testing
 Adopted a more positive role in the UN
BAD
 Overspending
 Inflation went up (from 2.3% to 17%)
 Unemployment went up (full employment since 1950s, 5% unemployed in 1975)
 Inexperienced ministry
 Loans affair (borrowing from Saudis, Rex Connor, went against govt and kept borrowing
more ($4 billion, he wanted to “buy back the farm” have Australians own and control their
own mineral resources, he was forced to resign for misleading the govt)
 Scandals (Dr Jim Cairns hired Juni Morosi, media concentrated on her exotic looks rather
than the fact that she was intelligent and qualified, they denied having an affair, but the
govt’s reputation was tarnished)
 Senate composition (a liberal should be replaced by a lib, the premier replaces senators, this
is not law just expected, this didn’t happen, so numbers were uneven creating a hostile
Senate. They voted and blocked supply so the government could no longer work)

Sir John Kerr

 Protégé of Doc Evatt
 Became a King’s Cousel in 1953
 Became Governor General 1974
 During supply crisis Malcolm Fraser (leader of the opposition), tries to convince him to
intervene.
 11 November 1975 Kerr sacks the Whitlam Government and appoints Fraser as caretaker
PM.
 Public outrage because one man shouldn’t be able to overthrow the democratically elected
government.
 Sparked Republicanism debate. Do we need the Governor General?