MEDIA ALERT UNSW Law & Justice expert available for comment: 50th anniversary of the Whitlam dismissal

Professor Rosalind Dixon, Anthony Mason Professor and Scientia Professor at UNSW Sydney Faculty of Law & Justice, is available for media comment ahead of the 50th anniversary of the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on 11 November 1975. 

Professor Dixon is a leading expert in constitutional law and democratic institutions, and co-author of A People’s Guide to the Australian Constitution. The book acknowledges the enormity of the dismissal: 

“The biggest crisis in Australian constitutional democracy occurred in November 1975, when the Queen’s representative in Australia, Governor-General Sir John Kerr, dismissed the government led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.” 

She can speak to the legal and democratic implications of the dismissal, its legacy in Australian constitutional law, and how it continues to shape public trust in political institutions. 

“Fifty years on, the dismissal of Gough Whitlam remains one of the most defining and divisive moments in Australian constitutional history. It continues to shape how we think about executive power, democratic accountability, and the role of the Governor-General.” 

To arrange an interview or request commentary, please contact Kelly Caulk ([email protected] 0437 868 944)