11 November 1975, Parliament House, Canberra, Australia
Gough Whitlam was the 21st Prime Minister of Asutralia. He was dismissed by the Governor General, an unelected vice regal, after a crisis of supply. This was his impromptu speech.
Ladies and gentleman (applause and cheering), well may we say God Save the Queen (pause) because nothing will save the Governor-General (applause and cheering).
The proclamation which you have just heard read by the Governor-General’s official secretary was countersigned ‘Malcolm Fraser’ (boos and jeering) who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr’s cur.
They won’t silence the outskirts of Parliament House, even if the inside has been silenced for the next few weeks (cheering).
The Governor-General’s proclamation was signed after he already made an appointment to meet the Speaker at a quarter to five.
The House of Representatives had requested the Speaker to give the Governor-General its decision that Mr Fraser did not have the confidence of the House (pause) and that the Governor-General should call me to form the Government. . . (cheers and applause).
Maintain your rage and enthusiasm through the campaign for the election now to be held and until polling day.