7am 50 years on, could the Dismissal happen again?
Nov 9, 2025
Paul Bongiorno, a veteran press gallery journalist and political commentator, reflects on the 1975 Dismissal of Gough Whitlam, calling it a significant warning about the fragility of Australia's democracy. He discusses the constitutional powers that allowed this unprecedented political crisis to occur. Bongiorno emphasizes the lack of safeguards against a repeat event and argues for a republic that would establish an independent Australian head of state. He also examines the historical legacies of key figures involved and the current political landscape regarding a potential republic referendum.
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Learning The Dismissal On The Radio
- Paul Bongiorno was in Wollongong and learned of Whitlam's dismissal on the radio while in a news car around 3pm.
- He was surprised but recalls there had been a week of speculation and media pressure leading up to it.
Whitlam Called It A Coup
- Bongiorno chased Whitlam at a Wollongong Town Hall and secured a brief on-the-spot interview after a Four Corners setup.
- Whitlam told him the dismissal was a 'coup d'etat' and described Kerr's actions as a violent, non-bloody change of government.
Constitutional Vulnerability Exposed
- Australia's constitutional monarchy lets the Governor-General exercise reserve powers independently of the prime minister's advice.
- The Senate's ability to block supply created a unique vulnerability absent in classical Westminster systems.