1975 Federal Election

December 13, 1975

The 1975 Federal Election occurred after one of the most dramatic periods in Australia’s political history. The twice-elected Whitlam Government was dismissed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, on 11th November 1975, after a constitutional confrontation that followed the refusal by the Opposition Liberal and National Country Parties in the Senate to pass the annual budget.

Following his dismissal, Gough Whitlam entered the election as the “elected Prime Minister” and Malcolm Fraser was designated the “caretaker Prime Minister”.

The conservative coalition secured one of the largest majorities in Australian electoral history.

Sound Archives

  • Nov 24: Whitlam’s ALP Policy Speech

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  • Nov 27: Malcolm Fraser’s Liberal Party Policy Speech

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  • Turn on the Lights – Liberal Party campaign jingle, sung by Renee Geyer

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State of the Parties

House of Representatives Elections 1975
ALP LIB NPA IND Total
NSW
17
19
9
-
45
VIC
10
19
5
-
34
QLD
1
9
8
-
18
WA
1
9
-
-
10
SA
6
6
-
-
12
TAS
-
5
-
-
5
ACT
1
1
-
-
2
NT
-
-
1
-
1
Total
36
68
23
-
127

Election Literature

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