While today is rememberence day.
Lest We Forget.
Nov 11 also marks the 30th anniversary of the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government.
The governer gerneral withdrew the commisssion of the prime minister, and appointed the opposition leader to form a government. His reason was that the upper house threated to block supply (ie to budget).
Points to remember are at that stage the budget was't blocked.
The GG was acording to convention only to act on the advice of the prime minister.
Whitlam was seeking a half senate election from the gg, which could have resolved the issue.
the new government did not have a majority in the lower house (where governments are formed).
This is still our country's biggest constitutional crisis. the GG still has those reserve powers, although the senate can no longer block supply.
potentially this could happen again. except for those of you living under a presidnetial system, ask yourselves could your head of state sack a legaly elected government in your country?
