Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:46): Fifty years ago on Tuesday Gough Whitlam was dismissed in a very important act that cleaned up the terrible Whitlam government. The government had its supply blocked by the Senate completely lawfully, according to the constitution. There is no doubt that the whole of the country was in a terrible position as the economy dived, unemployment grew and there was illegality in the form of the Khemlani business with the corrupt steps without approvals that were being taken by Rex Connor, almost certainly with the knowledge of then Prime Minister Whitlam. The fact is the Senate blocked the budget, and you cannot have a government without supply. You need to have supply to ensure the business of government continues. There is a long history, including in this jurisdiction, of Westminster systems where, if supply cannot be guaranteed, the governor is in a position to act. The Governor-General acted. He dismissed Whitlam, an election was called and a whopping majority was provided by the Australian people. I remember that day; I was on a bus at Doncaster shopping centre. Another bus driver came onto the bus to inform everyone, and the bus cheered. Everyone knew that the corrupt government was – (Time expired)