Australia's Watergate: The Dismissal

PS - having finished reading this book, my opinion remains the same - strengthened, if anything. 

I've started reading Professor Jenny Hocking's "The Palace Letters", about the struggles for Australia to gain access to a key part of our own heritage: the so-called Palace letters. Those relate the communication between Australia's then Governor-General, John Kerr, and the Queen (via the Queen's official Secretary , Martin Charteris). 

Professor Hocking's examination shows that Kerr planned Whitlam's removal and conspired secretly to that effect from before the supply crisis. 

I am now of the view that the Dismissal, the removal of an elected government in ways contrary to the applicable conventions (particularly the requirement of communication between the Governor-General and the Prime Minister), albeit a government that had become controversial and was heading for possible electoral defeat, could possibly be considered our version of the USA's Watergate scandal - and, in both cases, it is the cover up that is of greatest concern. 

The difference is, the USA's system was able to expose and deal with the wrongdoing at the time, whereas people here and in the UK were successful in organising a cover up for decades - right up until Professor Hocking's recent successes in court. 

Our version of Nixon is the triumvirate of John Kerr, Martin Charteris, and the UK's queen, Elizabeth II, who knew - partly through Prince Charles, and, in effect, colluded (my word choice) in the removal of a democratically elected government in an independent nation, despite that government's belated plan for a half Senate election (which would likely have been lost by Whitlam). I know some people claim the Queen didn't know just because Charteris knew, but Charteris was a most enthusiastic and effective servant, and you do not be so effective in that sort of role for so long by taking actions that would potentially damage or are contrary to the inclinations or wishes of the centre of your adoration.

The triumvirate's instruments (lickspittles?) include Malcolm Fraser (who brought on the supply crisis), Anthony Mason (who gave advice to Kerr and kept that fact secret), Garfield Barwick (whose advice has been known for a while, but he may have had a role in the cover-up), David Fricker (the former spy who played such an active and key role in the continuing wrong classification of the letters as ":personal" and cost Australia millions in his attempts to perpetuate the cover-up), and David Smith (Kerr's secretary, who refused to aid in breaking the cover-up). 

The leading heroine is obviously, Professor Hocking, but I am finding others as I work through this book. 

Australia needs to get rid of the monarchical link to the United Kingdom NOW, to protect our democracy and finish the journey to independence - an independence which must be felt in heart, accepted in mind, and lived in all we say and do. 

Otherwise we will forever be a colony of slaves - slaves of outmoded thinking and one-sided loyalty.