Assessment Resource Centre (ARC)

Sir John Kerr

It is vital for students to learn about Sir John Kerr as he played a crucial role in a defining moment of Australia’s political history, the event is still talked about today, the event changed law and he left a lasting legacy.

Sir John Kerr played a vital role in Australia’s political history in the Whitlam Dismissal. In 1974 after Whitlam was re-elected in May, Whitlam appointed Kerr as Governor-General . Kerr’s primary role of Governor-General was to sign bills and conduct ceremonial duties; however he had two reserve powers, in respect to S.64 and S.5/28.

In 1975 as the economy went into recession, inflation skyrocketed to 18%, wages subsequently rose as well as employment. Many people believed this was because the government had moved too fast, too soon by passing too many reformist policies. By mid-1975 a political crisis was occurring after a loans scandal due to Rex Connor seeking a $4bn loan to fund his activities and Whitlam’s treasurer, Jim Cairns having an affair with his secretary, Juni Morosi and the Liberal Party was blocking supply in the Senate. The government only had supply until the 30th of November, 1975 and without supply the government would be unable to pay government employees or carry out policies.

This deadlock carried on until Kerr broke a convention by consulting Sir Garfield Barwick, Chief Justice of the NSW High Court in regards to whether he had the ability to dismiss Whitlam. Barwick found out that under S.64 of the constitution he had the right to dismiss Whitlam. The following day on the 11th of November, 1975 Kerr dismissed Whitlam under S.64 and was the first person to do such an action. Kerr then swore in Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister and he immediately passed supply.

As a result of this action Whitlam was distraught saying on the steps of Parliament House, “We may say God Save the Queen, but only God may save the Governor-General”. The result of the dismissal was the Whitlam government was beaten overwhelmingly in the election 96-31, Kerr’s reputation also suffered as the Labor Party never forgave him due to his actions. However, others praised his actions saying “a lesser man would have involved the monarchy, he deliberately chose not to”. Due to the dismissal Kerr resigned in 1977. The convention of replacing a senator with one of the same party was made law.

Kerr’s action and the event left a lasting legacy to the nation. The dismissal sparked the republican debate in Australia for the first time as we became more independent, the role of the Queen and Governor-General was questioned and the event is still talked about today.

It is extremely important that students are taught about Sir John Kerr and his role in the Whitlam Dismissal. Kerr was apart of a defining moment in Australian political history, the events changed law, the event is still talked about today and he left a lasting legacy.

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