Palace Letters Vindicate Kerr & Queen

The release of the so-called “Palace Letters” by the National Archives this morning vindicates Sir John Kerr’s actions on November 11 1975, frees the Palace of any allegations of political interference, and proves our system of constitutional monarchy is by far the best and safest form of government for the Commonwealth of Australia.

The papers released today prove that Her Majesty The Queen was in no way involved in the Dismissal of the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, and that those who advocated otherwise should apologise.

Philip Benwell – National Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, who was present at today’s event in Canberra hosted by the National Archives, said, “The Palace Letters show that Government House – Canberra was keeping Buckingham Palace informed of the evolving crisis. Sir John Kerr informed the Palace and Her Majesty of his actions, with supporting legal documentation, immediately after dismissing the Whitlam Government, as he is required to do.”

“The Queen has a right and a duty to be informed on such major constitutional and political matters as Australia’s Head of State by her Ministers, Prime Ministers and Vice-Regal representatives. The power to appoint or dismiss a federal government in Australia constitutionally and legally lays with the Governor-General, as Kerr rightly highlights in his correspondence with the Palace.”

“Today’s release proves our system of constitutional monarchy works. The Whitlam Dismissal was never a constitutional crisis. It was a political crisis. The constitution did its job and did its job perfectly” said Mr Benwell.

Kerr relied on the convention that if a government cannot pass supply, the Prime Minister must advise the Crown to call an election and/or offer his or her resignation. The political stand-off between Whitlam and Fraser in the Senate forced the Governor-General’s hand.