May 18, 1974
The 1974 Federal Election was held just 17 months after the election of the Whitlam Labor Government. An intense period of legislative action was met by sustained opposition from the coalition Liberal and National Country Parties, and the Democratic Labor Party in the Senate.
Following an attempt by Whitlam to create an extra Senate vacancy in Queensland by appointing former DLP Leader, Senator Vince Gair, as Ambasssador to Ireland, the Opposition Leader, Bill Snedden, announced that the Opposition would block the government’s Supply Bills in the Senate.
Whitlam responded by calling a double dissolution election for May 18. Click here to read the proclamation by the Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck.
Whitlam’s government was returned to office with the loss of two seats, but still lacking a clear majority in the Senate.
Resources
- Dissolution Proclamation – the proclamation from the Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck, dissolving the Parliament and detailing the double dissolution bills.
- Gough Whitlam’s Policy Speech – 29 April 1974
- Listen to Whitlam’s Policy Speech:
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- Listen to ABC’s “AM” report on Whitlam’s policy launch:
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- Listen to Opposition Leader Bill Snedden’s Policy Speech (April 30, 1974)
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Election Results
