Speakers' Corner: Uncovering the hidden history of the Whitlam dismissal

What do the Palace Letters reveal about the role of the Queen in the dismissal of the Whitlam government?

We are thrilled to announce our first event of 2026 in our Speakers' Corner series, which features captivating conversations on archival practice with archivists, curators, academics and artists.

Our guest speaker for this event is Emeritus Professor Jenny Hocking AM FASSA, an award-winning biographer and the inaugural Distinguished Whitlam Fellow at the Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.

Jenny will discuss her archival exploration of Sir John Kerr’s papers and her successful High Court action to release the secret Palace Letters between the Queen and Governor-General Kerr regarding the dismissal of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.

Don’t miss your chance to learn how these letters overturned royal secrecy and reshaped our understanding of the Whitlam dismissal, followed by a Q&A session with Professor Hocking.

If you’re an NAA Member, remember to enter your member promotional code during registration to enjoy this program for free!

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