1975 Australian constitutional crisis - what if the Reds knew?

The event I am referring to as the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis was a major moment in Australian political history; it involved the dismissal from office of then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam from office by the Governor-General (representative of the British monarch as of the then-current - and still present as of time of writing - Australian law, the Governor-General is the de-facto head of state like a President in a parliamentary republic i.e. Iceland) at the time, John Kerr. A big event by Australian standards but in no sense anything major from a more global perspective of what happens to nations enduring such.

My question is, if the Communist powers of the Cold War (either the Soviet Union or China) or indeed some likely third-party was somehow able to take advantage of that, what could have been, politically for Australia, the worst-case scenario? (I'm NOT talking about THE worst-case scenario...)

(I know I should be able to think this out myself seeing as I'm Australian, but my knowledge of Australian political history during the Cold War is sketchy at best, mostly from second-hand anecdotes. Blame the shoddy Australian public school system of the early 2000s. Sigh...)
 
I'm not sure what they could do, other than perhaps the Communists help a successful push for an earlier republic referendum.
 

Cook

Banned
Apart from contribute to conspiracy theories about the C.I.A. inspiring this coup, nothing. And since there are enough clowns around already believing in such nonsense that means no change whatsoever.

A little reminder for everyone by the way – the Governor General is appointed by the Prime Minister, in John Kerr’s case he was appointed by Gough Whitlam.
 
It wouldn't be worth their time to be honest. Because there is nothing they can practically do, gain or intervene. They have no way of intervening or taking advantage of the situation.

Indeed the whole event is rather hyped up as defining moment in Labor history, which is sort of diminished when Norman Gunston showed up before the crowd.
 
My question is, if the Communist powers of the Cold War (either the Soviet Union or China) or indeed some likely third-party was somehow able to take advantage of that, what could have been, politically for Australia, the worst-case scenario?

Take advantage of the constitutional crisis how?

Ride down the Malayan Peninsula on bicycles?

Indeed the whole event is rather hyped up as defining moment in Labor history, which is sort of diminished when Norman Gunston showed up before the crowd.

The hype about the importance of the Dismissal is not far wrong. Exhibit A: Bob Hawke and Paul Keating getting a free hand to implement just about whatever they wanted in the eighties. That happened precisely because the Coalition government of Malcolm Fraser was pretty hamstringed by the circumstances of their taking office, they had no great strategic vision other than to win office and keep it.

Other than that, as much as I enjoy Gary McDonald's TV performance on the steps of old parliament house I tend to go with the book learnin' view of the Dismissal, which does indeed credit it with being a defining moment in both general and partisan Australian history. (Curious you phrase the Dismissal as being purely of note as 'Labor history'.)
 
The hype about the importance of the Dismissal is not far wrong. Exhibit A: Bob Hawke and Paul Keating getting a free hand to implement just about whatever they wanted in the eighties. That happened precisely because the Coalition government of Malcolm Fraser was pretty hamstringed by the circumstances of their taking office, they had no great strategic vision other than to win office and keep it.
Don't get me wrong, it was an important event, but to the extent to which it is referred to and played up in popular cultural is overestimated in my opinion. Maybe its a generational thing, I don't know.

I would disagree that the Fraser government was 'hamstrung', if the results of the elections are examined. I would suggest that the electoral victory in 1975 (overwhelming victory) and again in 1977 (slight swing of 1% against the government), and even in 1980, there was only a 4% swing (not good, could have been worse).

Perhaps not a 'grand strategic vision' in the same mould as Hawke, but he was fairly moderate on balance, but he still couldn't overcome the effects of the oil shock, particularly in regards to unemployment. Indeed he also oversaw the arrival and settlement of many refugees, supported multiculturalism and got SBS on the go and started the process towards Aboriginal land rights.

For many years, the Liberals counted these as wasted years and maybe had he allowed the radical elements within the party such as Howard, we might have seen many of the economic reforms brought in under Hawke/Keating much earlier.

Other than that, as much as I enjoy Gary McDonald's TV performance on the steps of old parliament house I tend to go with the book learnin' view of the Dismissal, which does indeed credit it with being a defining moment in both general and partisan Australian history. (Curious you phrase the Dismissal as being purely of note as 'Labor history'.)
I didn't say purely, not by a long shot, but "the dismissal" is a central discourse within the political history of the Australian Labor Party and is not held to the same high importance that is outside of the Labor movement.
 
Don't get me wrong, it was an important event, but to the extent to which it is referred to and played up in popular cultural is overestimated in my opinion. Maybe its a generational thing, I don't know.

Ah, yes, popular culture.

I would disagree that the Fraser government was 'hamstrung', if the results of the elections are examined. I would suggest that the electoral victory in 1975 (overwhelming victory) and again in 1977 (slight swing of 1% against the government), and even in 1980, there was only a 4% swing (not good, could have been worse).

These strong electoral figures, and most importantly the fact he had a senate majority for the rest of the decade, go to prove that Fraser was indeed very softly softly. By the standards of his own side he was too cautious.

His first couple of years in office are basically just him implementing Bill Hayden's last (undelivered) budget, with the defunding of Medibank and some token 'razor gang' cost cutting thrown in.

started the process towards Aboriginal land rights.

Continued the process.

Overall you're right about the importance of Fraser being a social progressive consensus builder.

For many years, the Liberals counted these as wasted years

Actually this is before my time, but the whole 'wasted years' phenomenon was almost a case of instant revisionism, started right afer their '83 election loss.

In a strange way I think it goes to reinforce the impotence of the Fraser government, though it also shows that only the dissident 'dries' thought the government was impotent when it still held office.

I didn't say purely, not by a long shot, but "the dismissal" is a central discourse within the political history of the Australian Labor Party and is not held to the same high importance that is outside of the Labor movement.

It's effect in Labor is huge, but the idea that a central feature of recent Labor hagiography is totally unconnected to the rest of Australian politics and society is mistaken. Both of the influential longlasting minor parties (Australian Democrats and Greens) have also been deeply influenced by the crisis. Almost all republicans have been influenced by it, even a Liberal such as Malcom Turnbull (I think only deeply conservative republicans can claim to even be republicans without any reference to 1975, and they're hardly a majority of republicanism).

Of course modern centre-Right orthodoxy wanting to forget the whole crisis ever happened, now that's another development altogether.

Anyway, my belief about the constitutional crisis having a huge effect on moving Labor to the Right is not standard Labor tribal lore, I don't think anyone but the Third Wayers hold it as an article of faith (and I'm not a Third Wayer).
 
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