Fifty years ago today, Australia’s Governor-General sacked Prime Minister Gough Whitlam - an act that stunned a democracy and reshaped political convention forever.
In this Cross Party Lines bonus episode, Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson revisit that extraordinary day - the personalities, the chaos, and the what-ifs that still echo across the Tasman. From Whitlam’s defiance to New Zealand’s own 1984 near-miss under Muldoon and Sir David Beattie, this is a gripping reminder that even in stable democracies, the rules only hold if we agree to play by them.
Follow Cross Party Lines wherever you get your podcasts — and tell us on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok what historic moments you’d like Phil and Chris to unpack next.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com
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