Democracy Sausage: Fifty years on from the Dismissal

Was Sir John Kerr’s decision to dismiss Gough Whitlam constitutionally correct but politically catastrophic? Did Malcolm Fraser’s blocking of supply in the Senate represent an abuse of power, or legitimate opposition tactics? And has the Dismissal left lasting scars on Australia’s public trust in democratic institutions?

Distinguished Professor George Williams AO is Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University and one of Australia’s leading constitutional lawyers.

The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP is the Member for Isaacs and former Commonwealth Attorney-General.

The Hon Justice Michael Lee serves on the Federal Court of Australia.

Julia Baird is an ABC journalist, broadcaster, and author.

Troy Bramston is a journalist with The Australian and author of the new biography Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New.

The Hon Amanda Vanstone AO is a former Liberal Senator for South Australia and Howard Government minister.

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.

Recorded live at ANU in partnership with the Whitlam Institute (whitlam.org).