The earlier IMDB comment entry for this mini-series illustrates the contentious nature of its subject matter. I seriously disagree with the reviewer's implied claim that the 11/11/75 dismissal of the Whitlam government was an exercise in democracy. The fact of the matter was that the individual who dismissed the government was in himself NOT an elected representative of the people (he was in fact appointed by the Crown) and the constitutional basis on which he did so was, at best, sketchy.
All of which is to say that this issue divided the Australian public then and still generates hot debate 25 years later. A left-wing, idealistic, socially reformist but economically bungling government caused a groundswell of public optimism and a real belief that significant social reform was possible in Australia. The conservative forces in Australia saw this as a major threat to the established way of things and, naturally, sought ways both commonplace and devious to overthrow the government. This mini-series dramatises these events and is a very capable representation of the key players, in particular Gough Whitlam and Malcom Fraser. In the unlikely event that any non-Australians wish to learn a bit about recent Australian political history, they could do worse than watch this series. Assuming they could get hold of a copy.
All of which is to say that this issue divided the Australian public then and still generates hot debate 25 years later. A left-wing, idealistic, socially reformist but economically bungling government caused a groundswell of public optimism and a real belief that significant social reform was possible in Australia. The conservative forces in Australia saw this as a major threat to the established way of things and, naturally, sought ways both commonplace and devious to overthrow the government. This mini-series dramatises these events and is a very capable representation of the key players, in particular Gough Whitlam and Malcom Fraser. In the unlikely event that any non-Australians wish to learn a bit about recent Australian political history, they could do worse than watch this series. Assuming they could get hold of a copy.
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