Albanese Commissions Gough Whitlam Statue at the Old Parliament House

Albanese Commissions Gough Whitlam Statue at the Old Parliament House

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the commissioning of a statue of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to mark 50 years since the dismissal of his government. The statue will stand at Old Parliament House, now home to the Museum of Australian Democracy, joining the existing figures of Sir Robert Menzies, John Curtin, and other leaders. “This new statue will stand not just for the immortal words Gough uttered on that day. More importa…

The Dismissal was a calculated conservative plot: Albanese

In a speech to mark 50 years since the day, Anthony Albanese says: “The Dismissal was a calculated plot, hatched by conservative forces which sacrificed conventions and institutions in the pursuit of power.” On 11 November 1975, I was in Year 7. Our history teacher, Vince Crow, burst into our classroom and said: “Our government […]

Albanese brands Whitlam dismissal a 'political ambush' on 50th anniversary

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the 1975 dismissal of Gough Whitlam as a “partisan political ambush”, as Labor marks 50 years since one of Australia’s most turbulent moments in history. Speaking at Old Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, Albanese said the sacking of the then-Prime Minister by Governor-General Sir John Kerr had “no legitimate pretext” and failed to “respect the mandate” of Whitlam’s democratically ele…