The book is an account of Sir John Kerr's (Governor General) dismissal of the Whitlam Government dismissal in 1975. The Whitlam (ALP) government lost the election that followed this unprecedented act.The author, Gough Whitlam, was Prime Minister at the time of the dismissal. Whilst governor generals have the power to independently call for a double dissolution, Sir John Kerr's act was unprecedented and has not happened since.Paper; book. Front cover: Photograph of Gough Whitlam; author name and title.kerr, sir john, whitlam, gough, alp, australian labor party, btlc, ballarat trades and labor council, 1975, remembrance day, parliament, government, dismissal - government, senate, fraser, malcolm, constitutional crisis, constitution, double dissolution election, appropriation bills, governor general, prime minister

Photograph: Gough Whitlam and Betty Borchers at Trades Hall Gough Whitlam was Australian Prime Minister from 1972 to 1975. The Whitlam government was a reformist government that introduced Medibank, the end of conscription, and free university education. His government was dismissed (parliament was dissolved) on 11 November 1975 by the Governor General Sir John Kerr owing to parliament's failure to pass Appropriation Bills. Malcolm Fraser was appointed as caretaker Prime Minister until an election was held. At the 1975 election, the Whitlam government was defeated by the Liberal Coalition - a landslide victory. Betty Borchers worked as a legal secretary. She was active in the Ballarat ALP and is the wife of Norm Borchers.Photographbtlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, australian labour party, alp, the dismissal, borchers, betty, whitlam, gough, prime minister, politicians

Photograph: Catherine King and Gough Whitlam at Trades Hall Catherine King is the federal ALP member for Ballarat and has been office since 2001. She was a cabinet minister in the second Rudd ministry and is now part of the Shadow Cabinet. Gough Whitlam was Australian Prime Minister from 1972 to 1975. The Whitlam government was a reformist government that introduced Medibank, the end of conscription, and free university education. His government was dismissed (parliament was dissolved) on 11 November 1975 by the Governor General Sir John Kerr owing to parliament's failure to pass Appropriation Bills. Malcolm Fraser was appointed as caretaker Prime Minister until an election was held. At the 1975 election, the Whitlam government was defeated by the Liberal Coalition - a landslide victory.Photographbtlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, whitlam, gough, king, catherine, politicians, alp, australian labor party, the dismissal, prime minister, cabinet ministers