In a world with democracy in decline, we have much to learn from those who rallied against Whitlam’s dismissal

T he dismissal of the Whitlam government, which occurred 50 years ago this month, remains one of the biggest deals in Australian history. There was a previous example of a state governor, Sir Philip Game, sacking a Labor government, and older instances of the British monarch dismissing ministries: Gough Whitlam recalled George III’s dismissal of the Fox-North coalition in 1783.

In 1975, few Australians seriously believed that the vice-regal dismissal of a democratically elected government was business as usual. Accordingly, alongside the relief of anti-Whitlam partisans, there was widespread shock, dismay and anger.

Whitlam called on his supporters to “maintain your rage”. Many did not need his encouragement.

This is a story that remains to be told: the dismissal as it played out in