Quote:
Originally Posted by Boracay
The famous quote of the time was by the dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam - Well may we say "God save the Queen" because nothing will save the Governor-General.
And nothing did.
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If I Remember Correctly, The Governor General at the time resigned immediately afterwards, with a recomendation that the Queen appoint Australian Nationals from that moment on as the Governor General, and again from memory, I believe the next GG was Sir Robert Menzies.
The fuss was all about the finance bill which the parliament would not pass, and that meant that no
government employee was being paid, and no government cheques could be passed. There was an Australian Frigate on a visit to
Singapore at the time, which could not
purchase food for the sailors, or
fuel to return to Aus, or even pay for the sailors. They were in severe difficulties. Back in Aus, none of the rubbish was being removed - not a goood plan in a very hot climate etc etc etc so the GG stepped in and immediately afterwards did the honourable thing in order to distance his decision from the Queen.
IMHO the man was in an impossible position and took the only honourable choice, knowing he would be villified, but unfortunately his old fashioned attitude to honour and duty seems to be a thing of the past.
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