Big Small Talk BIG TALK: The Whitlam Dismissal PART TWO
Nov 25, 2025
The podcast dives into the dramatic events of the 1975 Whitlam Dismissal, exploring how the Senate blocked government funding and the tense culmination of political deadlock. It examines the iconic dismissal speech and reveals the Palace's involvement through the Palace Letters. Discussions unfold around the controversial decisions by Malcolm Fraser and the resulting protests across the nation. They also tackle the murky legalities of the Governor-General's actions and speculate about CIA influence during the Cold War, all while reflecting on Whitlam's complicated legacy.
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Senate Blocking Turned Political Deadlock
- The opposition weaponised the Senate by repeatedly blocking legislation and then unprecedentedly refused to pass supply.
- This turned a political stalemate into a constitutional crisis that threatened government operations.
Rex Connor's Secret Loan Scheme
- Rex Connor secretly sought a US$4 billion loan from a Pakistani financier, bypassing normal channels.
- The fallout forced Whitlam to sack ministers and fuelled accusations of economic recklessness.
Convention-Breaking Senate Appointments
- State premiers broke convention by appointing senators from other parties, shifting the Senate balance against Whitlam.
- These breaches made the later supply block politically possible and deepened the crisis.