|
Date of letter
|
From
|
To
|
Description
|
PDF page no.
|
Folio no.
|
|
27 May 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Australian mini budget, Federal expenditure, Medibank levy, reduction of deficit, wage policy
· New South Wales election outcome, reflections on new Premier, Mr Neville Wran
Attachment
· Press clipping
|
3–7
|
237–241
|
|
27 May 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Sir John’s visit to Western Australia, observations of public sentiment toward the Monarchy and position of Governor-General
· Audience with The Queen sought by Mr Whitlam
· Reflections on publication by Mr Paul Kelly
Attachments
· Letter from Western Australian Premier Sir Charles Court to Prime Minister Fraser, 19 May 1976
· Letter from Western Australian Premier Sir Charles Court to Editor of The West Australian regarding harassment of the Governor-General, 19 May 1976
· Letter from Western Australian Premier Sir Charles Court to the Governor-General, 20 May 1976
· Follow-up letter from Western Australian Premier Sir Charles Court to the Governor-General, 20 May 1976
· Press clippings
|
8–21
|
222–236
|
|
17 May 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letters of 27 Apr and 4 and 7 May 1976:
· Comments on breadth of information provided to The Queen
· Australian Honours System
· Strategy to protect the position of Governor-General
|
22–23
|
221–222
|
|
6 May 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 23 Apr 1976:
· Reference to meeting with Sir John Bunting in London
|
24
|
220
|
|
7 May 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Visit to Western Australia, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island
· New South Wales election outcome
· Order of honours within the Australian honours system
· The position of the Governor-General in the monarchical system and role of Attorney-General in defending the position
· Additional handwritten postscript:
· from Sir John and postscript
· (2) from David Smith
|
25–27
|
217–219
|
|
4 May 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Commonwealth recommendations for Honours, Mr Lance Barnard, Mr John Egerton, Mr John Ducker
· New South Wales election outcome deadlock
· Possible tax reform and mini budget
· Possible trade union protests in Melbourne during proposed visit
· Comments on further publications on the dismissal of the Whitlam Government detailing Sir John’s actions
· Comments on Mr Menadue’s agitation for Governor-General’s resignation
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
28–38
|
206–216
|
|
28 Apr 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 13 Apr 1976:
· Comments on the New South Wales election, role of Mr Whitlam in the election
· Comments on academic views of the Whitlam Government dismissal
|
39–40
|
204–205
|
|
21 Apr 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 6 Apr 1976:
· Congratulations on Sir John’s knighthood
· Similarity of economic issues and taxation in Australia and UK
|
41–42
|
202–203
|
|
27 Apr 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· ANZAC Day reports in press
· Demonstration at Australian National University; possible boycott of lunch hosted by the Lord Mayor and Council of the City of Melbourne
· Personal note regarding wedding anniversary and upcoming family wedding
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
43–47
|
197–201
|
|
23 Apr 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Congratulations on Her Majesty’s 50th birthday
· Upcoming New South Wales election
· Demonstrations in Australia agitating for resignation of Sir John
· Arrangements for the Governor-General’s security
· Collaboration with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet regarding the Governor-General’s official program
· Opinion poll results on Prime Minister Fraser’s and Mr Whitlam’s popularity
· Gallup poll results regarding Governor-General’s resignation
Attachment
· Press clippings
|
48–57
|
187–196
|
|
12 Apr 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letters of 29 and 30 Mar 1976:
· Acknowledgement of personal information regarding Lady Kerr’s divorce
|
58
|
186
|
|
13 Apr 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Upcoming New South Wales election
· Upcoming visit of The Queen in 1977
· Academic views of Sir John’s decision to dismiss the Whitlam Government
· Prime Minister’s suggestions regarding amendment to the Australian honours system
· Order of Australia knighthood
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
59–65
|
179–185
|
|
6 Apr 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Economic matters in Australia including wage and tax indexation
· Increased security arrangements for Sir John and Lady Kerr
· Government view of Sir John as Governor-General
Attachments
· Former Prime Minister Menzies speech, 14 Jan 1976: ‘Reflections on an election’
· Deputy Prime Minister Anthony’s speech National Party Annual Conference, Bendigo, 1 Apr 1976
· Paper presented at Australian National University by R S Parker ‘Thoughts on the Constitutional crisis’
· Press clipping
|
66–83
|
178–161
|
|
31 Mar 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 23 Mar 1976:
· Political leadership developments in London
|
84–85
|
159–160
|
|
31 Mar 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 26 Mar 1976
|
86
|
158
|
|
30 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Demonstration at the Australian National University
Mr Whitlam’s continued discontent
Comments on new publication
Attachment
· Press clippings
|
87–93
|
151–157
|
|
29 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Personal note regarding circumstances of second marriage
|
94–97
|
147–150
|
|
26 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Australian Gallup polls in support of Sir John’s decision
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
98–101
|
143–146
|
|
23 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Labor party politics and Mr Whitlam’s leadership
· Victorian state election results
· Visit to Adelaide and demonstrations
· Leak of Mr Whitlam’s letter to The Queen
· Further publication on the Whitlam Government dismissal
· Visit to former Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Attachments
· Mr Whitlam speech at the launch of ‘Kerr’s King Hit!’ by Clem Lloyd and Andrew Clark, 22 Mar 1976
· Press clippings
· Letter from Sir Laurence Street, New South Wales Chief Justice, 20 Mar 1976
· Current Affairs Bulletin booklet, vol 52, 10 Mar 1976
|
102–135
|
109–142
|
|
15 Mar 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letters of 4 and 9 Mar 1976:
· Draws parallels between political leaders situation in UK and Australia
· Developments regarding Prerogatives of the Crown in UK
Attachment
· Press clipping
|
136–139
|
105–108
|
|
8 Mar 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 2 Mar 1976:
· Appearance of Iraqi Gold story in British press
|
140
|
104
|
|
2 Mar 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 19 Feb 1976:
· Demonstration outside Parliament House
· Program of visits across Australia
· ‘McClelland saga’
|
141
|
103
|
|
9 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Political disruption in Australia
· Alleged Ellicott and Barwick plan following denial of Supply
· Murdoch press coverage of Labor party funding crisis and Iraqi gold investigation
· Reports of Tony Benn actions
· Possible visit to Canada
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
142–149
|
95–102
|
|
4 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Labor party investigation of funding source and disappearance of Mr Fischer
· Visit of the King and Queen of Jordan
Attachments Press clippings
|
150–151
|
93–94
|
|
2 Mar 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Labor Party funding crisis and Iraqi gold investigation
· Review of recent publications regarding the Whitlam Government dismissal
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
152–162
|
82–92
|
|
24 Feb 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to letter of 16 Feb 1976:
· Acknowledging disagreeable opening of Parliament
|
163
|
81
|
|
16 Feb 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Response to of letter of 6 Feb 1976:
· Australian opening of Parliament
· The Queen’s forthcoming visit in 1977
|
164–165
|
79–80
|
|
23 Feb 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Sir John’s views on Australian and proposed Papua New Guinean constitution
Attachments
· John Kerr article 1969 ‘Wanted a Constitution: Before it is too late…’ re Papua New Guinea (13 pages)
· The Governor-Generalship in Australia, Journal of the Indian Law Institute, Jan–Mar 1975 (booklet: 7 pages)
· Sir John’s speech at the opening of the Annual Conference of the Australasian Law Schools Association, 25 Aug 1975 (10 pages)
|
166–196
|
48–78
|
|
19–20 Feb 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Boycott of opening of Parliament by Labor Party Members
· Public protests
· Proposal for continued visits across Australia
· Outline of events leading up to the dismissal of the Whitlam government
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
197–207
|
37–47
|
|
16 Feb 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Protocols for opening Parliament, Labor party member boycotts, public demonstrations
· Comments on Mr Whitlam’s public statements regarding Sir John and the dismissal
· Comments on media reports and publications
Attachments
· Press clippings
|
208–219
|
25–36
|
|
6 Feb 1976
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Resignation of newly sworn in Minister for Post and Telecommunications and swearing in of new Minister
· Performance of new Government policies and economic management
· Reflections on relationship between the Crown/ Governor-General and the Australian people
· Public acceptance of Sir John’s actions in dismissing the Whitlam Government
Attachments
· Copy of letter from Sir Martin to the Prime Minister of Australia, 29 Jan 1976
· Letter from Prime Minister Fraser to Sir Martin (undated)
|
220–227
|
17–24
|
|
22 Jan 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
· Draft letter to Mr Whitlam in response to letter received in Jan 1976
· Account of decisions made to protect future of the Monarchy
Attachment
· Draft letter from Sir Martin to Mr Whitlam
|
228–235
|
9–16
|
|
9 Jan 1976
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
Sir John Kerr
|
· Request for comment on draft letter to Mr Whitlam in response to letter received from Mr Whitlam
Attachments
· Letter from Mr Whitlam to Sir Martin, 26 Nov 1975
· Draft letter from Sir Martin to Mr Whitlam (no date)
|
236–239
|
8–4
|
|
16 Dec 1975
|
Sir John Kerr
|
Sir Martin Charteris
|
· Outcome of the federal election, public sentiment toward political parties, government and monarchy
· Swearing in of new Ministry
· Arrangements to visit London
|
241–243
|
1–3
|