On a polarising day marking Whitlam’s dismissal, Howard backs four-year terms in rare lockstep with PM

Half a century on from Gough Whitlam’s historic dismissal, the rage and rancour remains.

Paul Keating said he would have arrested governor general Sir John Kerr over what he called a “coup”, while John Howard said the Senate deadlock needed to be broken.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, called Kerr’s dismissal “a calculated plot” and partisan ambush.

But among the fizzing division still lingering to this day, one bright spark of common ground: Howard backed Albanese’s long-held push for a move to four-year terms of government.

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The Liberal titan urged current Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, to “get together” with the prime minister to give more stability and structure to Australia’s electoral system.

In conversation with broadcaster Barrie Cassidy, H