‘Warning by Askin on financial policy’, DT, 14 August 1968, p. 10.
Maximilian Walsh, ‘Has cabinet miscounted the votes?’, AFR, 14 August 1968, p. 1.
Howson, 1984, pp. 450, 453.
Aitchison, 1978, p. 158.
Gorton press statement, 22 September 1968, ‘Amendment to ACT Companies Ordinance’, PM no. 83/1968.
Gorton, Sunday Aus., 15 August 1971, p. 11; 22 August 1971, p. 10; 12 September 1971, p. 6.
John Gorton interviewed by Clyde Cameron, NLA Oral History, TRC 1702, vol. 1, p. 58.
Gorton, in Reid, 1971, p. 129.
See also ‘Sir John Bunting’, NAA: A11099, 1/96; Hancock, 2002, pp. 127–28.
See Reid, 1971, pp. 127–28.
Howson, 1984, p. 474.
Alan Ramsey, ‘The power game’, Aus., 27 December 1968, p. 7.
Gorton, ‘Flinders electorate Liberal Party luncheon, Mornington, Vic’, 14 October 1968, no. 1938.
Fadden to Bunting, 20 October 1968, NAA: M321, 1.
Kiernan, 1986, p. 70.
ibid., p. 95.
Golding, 1996, pp. 29–30.
John Gorton interviewed by Clyde Cameron, NLA Oral History, TRC 1702, vol. 1, p. 291.
Cabinet notebook, ‘Sir John Bunting’, NAA: A11099, 1/97; ‘Cabinet minute — exchange control — News Limited — WITHOUT SUBMISSION [1 page]’, NAA: A5872, decision 731.
Hancock, 2002, p. 338; Griffen-Foley, 2003, pp. 153–54.
Whitwell, 1986, pp. 156–59.
Gorton and McMahon press statement, 5 December 1968, ‘Overseas takeovers of Australian companies’, PM no. 96/1968. See too McMahon’s press statement, 2 April 1969, on overseas investment, which simultaneously deplored foreign takeovers and asserted the benefits they could bring: NAA: M58, 220.
Alan Ramsey, ‘The power game’, Aus., 27 December 1968, p. 7.
Maxwell Newton, ‘Mr McMahon’s economic principles go out the window’, Incentive, no. 177, 9 December 1968, p. 3.
‘The new economics? … none’, AFR, 9 December 1968, pp. 1, 28.
‘I think that he reflected the views of Treasury almost completely,’ Gorton later said. See John Gorton interviewed by Clyde Cameron, NLA Oral History, TRC 1702, vol. 1, p. 63.
Maxwell Newton published the full text of Gorton’s 11 December press conference for his subscribers. See ‘The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. John G. Gorton, full text of his press conference, 11 December 1968’.
Cabinet meeting 18 December 1968, ‘Sir John Bunting’, NAA: A11099, 1/98.
Maxwell Newton, ‘Hot water bags — and damn the cost’, Incentive, no. 178, 13 January 1969, p. 3.
Alan Ramsey, ‘It’s in the book — or is it?’, Aus., 7 October 1968, p. 7.
Howson, 1984, pp. 479, 484, 491; Fitzgerald and Holt, 2010, p. 207.
Howson, 1984, pp. 491–92.
Mungo MacCallum interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/44, p. 24.
Dudley Erwin interviewed by Robert Linford, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/7.
Alan Reid states these rumours forthrightly. See Reid, 1971, p. 81.
Hasluck, 1995, p. 158.
See, for example, Menzies to Henderson, 21 February 1969, in Henderson (ed.), 2011, pp. 206–07.
Maxwell Newton, Insight, 10 February 1969.
Frank Browne, TIH, no. 1079, 6 December 1968; no. 1080, 13 December 1968; no. 1084, 31 January 1969.
James, CPD HoR, vol. 62, 19 March 1969, pp. 694–95.
Killen and Hughes, ibid., pp. 695–98.
Aston, ibid., pp. 698–99.
McMahon, ibid., pp. 701–02. Jim Killen was scathing about McMahon’s intervention. It ‘put the incident on the front page of newspapers’, he wrote. See Killen, 1985, p. 140.
Barnard, CPD HoR, vol. 62, 19 March 1969, pp. 702–03.
Gorton, Whitlam, and McEwen, CPD HoR, vol. 62, 20 March 1969, pp. 709–14.
Fitzgerald and Holt, 2010, pp. 206–10.
St John, CPD HoR, vol. 62, 20 March 1969, pp. 790–92.
Gorton, ibid., pp. 792–93.
Sam McMahon told newspapers that he would oppose St John for pre-selection should Liberal Party branches in St John’s electorate of Warringah not withdraw his nomination. His decision was made without the knowledge or influence of his brother, he said. See ‘Mr S. McMahon offers to stand’, CT, 27 March 1969, p. 1.
Hancock, 2002, pp. 222–23.
Tony Eggleton, Gorton’s press secretary, kept a file on Newton and the activities of his reporters: NAA: M2093, 14.
‘The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. John G. Gorton, Full text of his press conference, 11 December 1968’ may be found as an addendum in compilations of Incentive.
Incentive, 7 April 1969; and cabinet minute no. 922, ‘Cabinet document — “Incentive”’, 15 April 1969, NAA: A5872, 922; Interview notes between F. Mills and Newton, 15 April 1969, NAA: M3787, 12.
Maxwell Newton, ‘Australian ambassador talks with French foreign minister’, Management Newsletter, 13 May 1969, pp. 3–4.
The prime minister’s office was following matters closely, as a dossier on the matter shows: NAA: M3787, 12. According to Gorton, the whole of cabinet agreed on the raid. See John Gorton interviewed by Clyde Cameron, NLA Oral History, TRC 1702, vol. 1, p. 322.
Cabinet decision no. 922, 15 April 1969, NAA: A5872, 922.
Newton, 1993, p. 178.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 1 October 2016, 1 May 2017.
ibid. John Stone, who had known Newton for many years, was told about this telephone call by Newton, who stated definitively that it was McMahon on the other end: Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 8 January 2017.
Supreme Court of Australian Capital Territory, 1969, 14, Federal Law Reports, The Queen v. Tillett and others; ex parte Newton and others, pp. 101–28. After the charges were dismissed, Newton supposedly sent Gorton a pithy, gloating telegram: ‘Ho-de-hum.’ See Aitchison, 1978, p. 200. Peter Kelly recalls that the telegram read only ‘Ho-hum.’ When he queried whether Newton should say more in the reply, Newton grinned and said that it was enough. Clyde Cameron mentioned to Gorton the possibility that McMahon had tipped off Newton about the raid. Gorton’s response was non-committal, though he agreed Newton ‘probably’ would have known it was coming. See John Gorton interviewed by Clyde Cameron, NLA Oral History, TRC 1702, vol. 1, p. 320.
In April, McMahon told Howson of his doubts and fears about Gorton but said he would do nothing. Howson also records a conversation with the president of the Senate, Senator Alister McMullin, who said that Frank Packer had warned Gorton about his treatment of McMahon: if Gorton continued to denigrate the treasurer, Packer supposedly said, Packer would turn his press against him. This may have been in response to a conversation Gorton had in March with New South Wales premier Bob Askin, when Gorton said he was going to move McMahon from the Treasury. See Howson, 1984, pp. 499–500, 502–05, 509–16 and Reid, 1971, p. 78.
The Australian Economy 1969, Department of the Treasury, Canberra.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 64, 12 August 1969, p. 31.
Howson, 1984, p. 539.
McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 64, 12 August 1969, pp. 31–43.
‘A budget for progress and humanity’, DT, 13 August 1969, p. 2.
David Lowe, ‘Time bombs with a welfare veneer’, AFR, 13 August 1969, pp. 1, 26.
Maxwell Newton, ‘An act of vandalism’, Incentive, no. 209, 18 August 1969, p. 5; Maximilian Walsh, ‘To the polls while the illusion lasts’, AFR, 13 August 1969, pp. 1, 5.
‘Policies’, Aus., 13 August 1969, p. 12.
For an account of Freeth’s fitness, compared with McMahon’s, see Hasluck, 1997, pp. 188–89.
Reid, 1971, pp. 196–98.
Freeth, CPD HoR, vol.
64, 14 August 1969, pp. 310–17.
Whitlam, ibid., pp. 317–23.
It was often overlooked that the sections on the USSR had been drafted, at least in part, by Freeth’s permanent head, Sir James Plimsoll. See Hearder, 2015, pp. 204–08. Killen suggests that the speech caused the budget to fade ‘into relative insignificance’. See Killen, 1985, p. 144.
Howson, 1984, p. 541.
Reid, 1971, p. 304.
Ian Hancock writes that the Liberal Party’s staff planning committee had concluded in June 1969 that a campaign fought on domestic matters should be avoided. Whether Gorton received this advice is unclear; nonetheless, his shift towards defence late in August was notable. See Hancock, 2002, pp. 228, 235.
Gorton, ‘Kingston electorate Liberal Party dinner’, 12 September 1969, PMC Transcripts.
Gorton, ‘Federal elections 1969 policy speech’, 8 October 1969, PMC transcripts.
Reid, 1971, p. 308.
See Howson, 1984, pp. 549–54.
Menzies to Henderson, 24 October 1969, in Henderson (ed.), 2011, pp. 222–25.
Jonathan Gaul, ‘Ten more worrying days for Mr Gorton’, CT, 14 October 1969, p. 2.
‘No direct answer on McMahon’, CT, 20 October 1969, p. 11.
Arthur Fadden to Ulrich Ellis, 21 October 1969, NLA MS1006, Box 30.
‘Whitlam says McMahon being humiliated’, CT, 21 October 1969, p. 10.
Author’s correspondence with Mungo MacCallum, 4 October 2017; MacCallum, 2002, p. 188.
Jonathan Gaul, ‘Up to PM, McMahon says’, CT, 22 October 1969, p. 7.
Chapter 26: Fragments and Credit
Salter, 1995, p. 35.
Mark Hayne, ‘The autobiography that never was’, SMH, 11 April 1988, p. 15.
Gorton later claimed that McMahon’s good reputation as treasurer stemmed from his doing exactly as his department urged. See John Gorton interviewed by Clyde Cameron, NLA Oral History, TRC 1702, vol. 1, p. 63. Don Chipp also thought that McMahon was lucky to have inherited the good economic conditions from Harold Holt. See Chipp and Larkin, 1978, p. 125.
Dudley Erwin interviewed by Robert Linford, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/7.
Billy Snedden interviewed by Catherine Santamaria, NLA Oral History, TRC 455.
Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 6 January 2017.
Mark Hayne, ‘The autobiography that never was’, SMH, 11 April 1988.
Bowman diary, 4 June 1984.
Author’s correspondence with John Stone, 8 January 2017.
Peter Sekuless, in Grattan (ed.), 2001, pp. 313–23.
Chapter 27: Subsequent Plots
Adam Carr, ‘Australian Legislative election of 25 October 1969’, Psephos,
Jonathan Gaul, ‘The PM meets the press’, CT, 27 October 1969, p. 8.
Irwin wrote to all Liberal and government MPs in this vein. See Hancock, 2002, p. 243.
John Carrick to Fred Osborne, cited in Hancock, 2002, p. 244.
Alan Reid, ‘Qld Liberals to review elections’, DT, 28 October 1969, p. 3.
David Fairbairn interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/74.
Fairbairn to Gorton, 30 October 1969, NAA: M3787, 48.
Jonathan Gaul, ‘Power struggle’, CT, 31 October 1969, p. 1.
Author’s interview with Tom Hughes, 16 August 2016.
Howson, 1984, p. 563.
ibid., p. 564.
ibid., p. 566.
ibid., p. 568.
ibid.
‘Editorial’, Sunday Telegraph, 2 November 1969, p. 2.
Paul Hasluck, ‘Events following the election of October 25, 1969’, NAA: M1767, 3. McEwen and Hasluck met at the Melbourne Cup on 4 November. In the course of that conversation, McEwen informed Hasluck that he did not believe Gorton had learned ‘a thing’ from the election, had found him ‘immovable’, and stated that he would keep out of the leadership fight, believing a veto of McMahon would do no good. ‘If the Liberal Party elected McMahon, however,’ wrote Hasluck, ‘he (McEwen) would want to do some “pretty hard talking” and he would want any arrangement for a coalition put down in writing in a form that would enable him to keep McMahon pinned down to his promises.’
McEwen, 1983, p. 76. Others have attributed McEwen’s recission of his veto to McMahon’s attempts to flatter him. Peter Howson suggests that both men were clearly concerned by Gorton’s policies on defence and foreign relations: Howson, 1984, pp. 546–47, 570.
McEwen, press statement, 3 November 1969.
McEwen, 1983, p. 79.
Laurie Oakes, ‘Laurie Oakes’ remarks at launching of John McEwen: his story’, 21 October 2014,
‘Fairbairn would serve’, CT, 4 November 1969, p. 1.
‘Fairbairn’s statement: questioning the policies of Mr Gorton’, CT, 4 November 1969, p. 8.
Author’s correspondence with Doug Anthony, 25 July 2016.
Alan Reid, ‘McMahon to stand as leader’, DT, 4 November 1969, p. 1.
Gorton, ‘Declaration of Higgins poll’, 5 November 1969, APMC Transcripts.
Howson, 1984, pp. 564–65.
Alan Reid, Bulletin, 8 November 1969, p. 18.
Reid, 1971, pp. 362–65.
Author’s interview with Bruce MacCarthy, 5 August 2016. The rescission motion ensured that the motion was held over until November, by which time Gorton had been re-elected. According to MacCarthy, a vote to withdraw the motion was held in his absence and the count was deliberately left unreported in issues of The Australian Liberal. Alan Reid records this, too. See Reid, 1971, p. 362.
‘McMahon “a federalist”’, CT, 5 November 1969, p. 3.
McNicoll, 1978, p. 273.
John Gorton interviewed by Clarrie Hermes, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/47, 6:6.
Author’s interview with Tom Hughes, 16 August 2016.
Charles ‘Bert’ Kelly diary, 11 November 1969, NLA MS7424. See also Kelly, 1978, pp. 112–13. Freeth’s poor opinion of McMahon did not prevent him from accepting a subsequent offer from McMahon to become Ambassador to Japan. See Gordon Freeth interviewed by John Ferrell, NLA Oral History, TRC 4900/87.
Menzies to Henderson, 29 October 1969, in Henderson (ed.), 2011, pp. 222–25.
Howson, 1984, p. 571.
Aitchison, 1978, p. 234.
Howson, 1984, p. 575. See also Reid, 1971, p. 375. If true, this would have been an egregious example of interference; however, it should be noted that Howson’s interpretation and record of the conversation may not be wholly accurate.
Unsigned note, NAA: M3787, 48.
Reid, 1971, p. 377.
ibid.
‘Mr Gorton sees “unity, strength”’, CT, 8 November 1969, p. 13.
Aitchison, 1978, p. 235.
‘Two shook hands’, CT, 8 November 1969, p. 1.
Killen, 1985, p. 150.
Hasluck, ‘Events following the election of October 25, 1969’, NAA: M1767, 3.
Howson, 1984, p. 576.
Max Newton, ‘A great body of men’, Incentive, no. 221, 10 November 1969, pp. 6–7.
Howson, 1984, pp. 576–77.
Hasluck, ‘Events following the election of October 25, 1969’, NAA: M1767, 3.
ibid.
ibid.
Chapter 28: Loyalty
McMahon, aide-mémoires from conversations with Fairbairn, 30 and 31 October 1969, copies in the author’s possession.
McMahon aide-mémoire from conversation with Gorton, 30 October 1969, copy in the author’s possession. Any assessment of this aide-mémoire should take into account that the note of the need for a
practised political hand in External Affairs may be reflective of McMahon’s need to attach prestige to the portfolio he would soon take over.
McMahon aide-mémoire from conversation with McEwen, 3 November 1969, copy in the author’s possession.
McMahon aide-mémoire from conversation with senator Robert Cotton, 28 October 1969, copy in the author’s possession.
McMahon aide-mémoire from conversation with Les Bury, 12 November 1969, copy in the author’s possession.
McMahon aide-mémoire from conversation with Dudley Erwin, 11 November 1969, copy in the author’s possession.
Confidential memo, 28 October 1969, no author listed, copy in the author’s possession.
Author’s interview with Peter Kelly, 2 May 2017.
Chapter 29: A New Stage
See Hancock, 2016, pp. 129–30; Killen, 1985, p. 142; Robert ‘Duke’ Bonnett interviewed by Peter Sekuless, 21 April –21 July 1983, NLA Oral History, TRC 1454.
The so-called cocktail Cabinets were a point of criticism: see Reid, 1971.
Howson, 1984, p. 577.
‘Federal election campaign’, report to Federal Executive from the Staff Planning Committee, 19 November 1969, Robert Southey papers, NLA MS9901/1/30–31.
Howson, 1984, p. 577.
Author’s interview with C.R. ‘Kim’ Jones, 2 June 2017.
Author’s interview and correspondence with C.R. ‘Kim’ Jones, 2 June, 3 June, and 10 June 2017.
Keith Waller interviewed by J.D.B. Miller, NLA Oral History, TRC 314, pp. 29–31.
Chipp and Larkin, 1978, p. 125.
Hunt, CPD HoR, vol. 160, 12 April 1988, p. 1407.
Author’s correspondence with Mungo MacCallum, 4 October 2017.
On 30 November, McMahon was telling Howson of his concerns about lack of forward planning in areas such as disengagement from Vietnam, the future of Thailand amid Chinese encroachment, the USSR and the Indian Ocean, and Australia’s policy towards Japan. See Howson, 1984, p. 584.
See Hearder, 2015.
Waller, 1990, p. 42; Philip Flood interviewed by Gregory Wood, NLA Oral History, TRC 6350/5.
Tange, 2008, p. 20.
Bruce Juddery, ‘Tange, Sir Arthur Harold (1914–2001)’, CT, 11 May 2001, p. 13.
Tiberius with a Telephone Page 82
