Prime Minister Gough Whitlam is Sacked

One of Canberra’s, and Australia’s, most dramatic events was the reading of the proclamation of the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government on the steps of Parliament House on 11 November 1975. David Smith, official secretary to Governor-General Sir John Kerr, reads the proclamation. When we strip away the images and only listen to the audio we can appreciate Whitlam’s skill as an orator. He speaks slowly and clearly, waiting for the effect of each phrase on the crowd, saving his more powerful phrases for the end of each sentence. Among the noisy crowd is also heard an appeal for an Australian republic.