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Powerful words: Gough Whitlam's dismissal

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Gough Whitlam stands before press microphones on steps of Parliament House on 11 November 1975
Powerful words: Gough Whitlam's dismissal

SUBJECTS:  Civics and Citizenship, English, History

YEARS:  9–10


Gough Whitlam is the only Australian prime minister to have been sacked from office — along with his entire government.

After learning of his dismissal, Mr Whitlam addressed the Australian public and uttered a line that has resonated throughout Australian politics since 1975.

Words can be immensely powerful and, as you will discover in this clip, the way they are delivered can add to their power.

The opening of a speech does not need to concern its subject directly. A speaker's task is to connect with the audience. In some instances, the opening sentence is a bold and memorable statement that captures the audience's attention or articulates its feelings.

A speech should end on a high note. The conclusion, or peroration, often starts with a quiet sentence that signals the approach of the end. It builds to a climax and is greeted with the audience's applause.

Listen as former prime minister Gough Whitlam engages the rhetorical device of 'antanaclasis', in which a word is repeated, but with its usual meaning or intention changed.


Things to think about

  1. 1.The last line of the proclamation that dismissed Mr Whitlam and dissolved Parliament reads 'God Save The Queen!' Remembrance Day is 11 November. It commemorates the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. Have you listened to any famous speeches? If so, think about one. Do you remember what the whole speech was like, or was there just one line that stood out?
  2. 2.What is the effect of the pause after Mr Whitlam says, 'Well may we say God save the Queen'? Why do you think Mr Whitlam references Remembrance Day in this speech? Whitlam uses the pun of 'Kerr's cur' to characterise his rival and successor, leader of the opposition Malcolm Fraser. What is a cur? What is Mr Whitlam implying here?
  3. 3.What emotions do you think are expressed in Mr Whitlam's famous line about the governor-general? What emotions do you notice being aroused in the audience? Why do you think this is such a memorable statement?
  4. 4.Listen to a selection of famous speeches. Many are available online. How many have their theme distilled into a single line or phrase? Create a digital presentation that identifies several famous historical speeches and the catch-phrases for which they are remembered.



Date of broadcast: 11 Nov 1975

View the full Power of Speech collection

Examine speech as performance and investigate the use of rhetorical devices through the words of speakers from politician Winston Churchill to comedian Josh Thomas.

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Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Posted , updated