Palace letters reveal Sir John Kerr dismissed Gough Whitlam without informing the Queen

Gough Whitlam pours a soil in Vincent Lingiari's hands, marking the return of the Gurindji peoples' land. Source: Mervyn Bishop

The Queen was not told about Sir John Kerr's final decision to dismiss Gough Whitlam in 1975.

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Sir John Kerr did not tell the Queen of his intention to dismiss then-prime minister Gough Whitlam before the historic decision on 11 November, 1975.

The National Archives of Australia on Tuesday released about 200 letters between the former governor-general and the Queen about the dismissal of the Whitlam government.