STATEMENT BY MALCOLM FRASER 1 OEBR17
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN'
THIS AFTERNOON, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL COMMISSIONED ME TO FORM
A GOVERNMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION IS TO PERMIT THE DEADLOCK BETWEEN
THE TWO HOUSES-OF THE PARLIAMENT TO BE RESOLVED.
IT WILL BE MY SOLE PURPOSE AS HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO RESTORE
RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMIENT TO THE NATION'S AFFAIRS AND TO ENSURE THAT
AUSTRALIA HAS THE GENERAL ELECTION TO WHICH IT IS CONSTITUTIONALLY
ENTITLED AND WHICH HAS SO FAR BEEN DENIED IT.
UNTIL THE JUDGEMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE HAS BEEN REGISTERED
AT THIS ELECTION, MY GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE NO APPOINTMENTS OR
DISMISSALS, NOR INITIATE ANY OF OUR POLICIES.
I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS 761-'; 2
11 NOVEMBER 1975
-2-11 NOV/ EMBER 1975
YOUR EXCELLENCY.-
YOU HAVE INTIMATED TO ME THAT IT IS YOUR EXCELLENCY'S
PLEASURE THAT I SHOULD ACT AS YOUR CHIEF ADVISER AND HEAD
OF THE GOVERNMENT,
IN ACCEPTING YOUR COMMISSION I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE G IVEN YOU
AN ASSURANCE THAT I SHALL IMMEDIATELY SEEK TO SECURE THE
PASSAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILLS WHICH ARE AT PRESENT
BEFORE THE SENATE, THUS ENSURING SUPPLY FOR THE CARRYING
ON OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. I FURTHER.
CONFIRMI THAT, UPON THE GRANTING OF SUPPLY, I SHALL IMMEDIATELY
RECOMMEND TO YOUR EXCELLENCY THE DISSOLUTION OF BOTH HOUSES
OF THE PARLIAMENT.
MY GOVERNMENT WILL ACT AS A CARETAKER GOVERNMENT AND WILL
MAKE NO APPOINTMENTS OR DISMISSALS OR INITIATE NEW POLICIES
BEFORE A GENERAL ELECTION IS HELD. YOURS SINCERELY,
( JI. It. F RAS ER)
HIS EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE SIR JOHN KERR, AC., KUST.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,*
CANBERRA. A. C. T. 2600
ONCE THE SENATE MADE ITS DECISION, THERE WAS ONLY ONE APPROPRIATE
COURSE OF ACTION FOR MR WHITLAM TO TAKE. HE SHOULD HAVE CALLED
A GENERAL ELECTION.
HE REFUSED TO DO SO.
I DEEPLY REGRET THAT HE DID NOT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OPEN TO HIM.
A WEEK AGO WE PROPOSED THAT MR WHITLAM UNDERTAKE TO HOLD ELECTIONS
FOR THE HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE NEXT SENATE ELECTION.
HE REJECTED THAT OFFER.
THIS MORNING, I CALLED ON MR WHITLAM TO DISCUSS WITH HIM
ARRANGEMENTS FOR A GENERAL ELECTION, THESE DISCUSSIONS WERE FRUITLESS.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL WAS LEFT WITH NO
ALTERNATIVE. HE HAS ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS DUTY UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION AND WITHDRAWN MR WHITLAM'S COMMISSION.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY DUTY. I HAVE TODAY ADVISED SIR JOHN KERR TO
DISSOLVE BOTH HOUSES OF THE PARLIAMENT, SO THAT THE PEOPLE
THEMSELVES CAN DECIDE WHAT GOVERNMENT THEY WANT FOR AUSTRALIA.
BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT WAS DISSOLVED, THE BUDGET W-AS PASSED.
NONE OF THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WHICH WERE THREATENED BY THE LABOR PARTY(
WILL NOW OCCUR. MONEY FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND GOVERNMENT
SERVICES WILL NOW FLOWi NORMALLY. I HAVE TODAY ISSUED WRITTEN
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE AS A WHOLE THAT ALL THE
GOVERNMENT'S OUTSTANDING DEBTS SHOULD BE PAID. 1 6 ILI
THE LIBERAL AND NATIONAL COUNTRY PARTIES TOOK-THE ACTION WE DID
AFTER THREE YEARS OF GROSSLY INCOMPETENT AND DAMAGING ECONOMIC
MISMANAGEMENT,-AND AFTER THE SECOND'MAN WHO HAD ACTED AS" PRIME
MININSTER HAD BEEN DISMISSED FOR DECEIVING THE PARLIAMENT.
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE BELIEVED THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA
OUGHT TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO JUDGE TO
JUDGE THE LABOR PARTY AND TO JUDGE OURSELVES. OUR ACTION HAS
BEEN TAKEN TO GIVE PEOPLE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, 0
THOSE FEW EXTREMISTS URGING CONFLICT AND DIVISION ARE DAMAGING
AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY. I BELIEVE THAT RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE WILL
SUPPORT THE REASONABLE AND RATIONAL APPROACH WE HAVE ADOPTED.
THERE WILL NOW BE AN ELECTION AS THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES.
THE GREAT DEFENSE OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS THAT THE CONSTITUTION MUST 0
BE UPHELD. 0
THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEIR SAY. THE CHOICE IS THEIRS
AT THE BALLOT BOX,