Tiberius with a Telephone

by Patrick Mullins

  Howson, 1984, p. 826.

  Alan Reid diary, 23 February 1972, NLA MS7796.

  Coombs, 1981, pp. 292–93.

  Bunting, 31 January 1972, NAA: M319, 31 Part 1.

  Bunting, 26 May 1972, NAA: M319, 34 Part 2.

  Author’s interview with Jonathan Gaul, 24 February 2018.

  ibid.

  Barnard, Whitlam, Foster and Gorton, CPD HoR, vol. 77, 12 April 1972, pp. 1491–94, 1556–62. See also Howson, 1984, p. 847.

  Casey to McMahon, 14 August 1972, NAA: M1129, MCMAHON/W.

  Allan Barnes, ‘Whitlam to have same radio time as PM’, Age, 22 April 1972, p. 3.

  Author’s interview with Jonathan Gaul, 24 February 2018.

  Fairfax to Carroll, in Souter, 1981, p. 478.

  Killen, 1985, pp. 189–90.

  Alan Reid diary, 1 May 1972, NLA MS7796. See also Bunting, notes for file, 1 May 1972 and 2.30pm 1 May 1972, NAA: M319, 34 Part 1.

  Hughes, 1972b, pp. 261–70; ‘Treasurer bent on suicide?’, DT, 8 March 1972, p. 6.

  Fitzgerald and Holt, 2010, pp. 241.

  McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 107, 25 October 1977, pp. 2314–16. Accounts of this meeting differ. According to Graham Freudenberg, Murdoch telephoned McMahon, who was in London, to tell him of the deal: ‘I can promise you, Prime Minister, that we will be as fair to you as you deserve.’ In the background, Packer could be heard to say, ‘If you do that, you will murder him.’ McMahon, however, was not in London in June 1971. See Freudenberg, 1987, p. 221.

  Sonia McMahon, ‘It’s alright, Boss’, The Liberals, TV programme, 1994.

  Freudenberg, 1987, p. 221.

  Tange, 2008, p. 40.

  Edwards, 2006, p. 195.

  Tange subsequently wrote of approaching Fairbairn that year with a suggestion that the government establish a review of the organisation of the Defence group of ministers and departments. Fairbairn’s answer was unsurprising: McMahon would not want to open up such a controversial matter. See Tange, 2008, p. 46.

  David Solomon, ‘Two-tier defence for Australia’, CT, 29 March 1972, p. 1; Fairbairn, CPD HoR, vol. 77, 28 March 1972, pp. 1247–56.

  Edwards, 2006, p. 197.

  Allan Barnes, ‘PM off to Asia, minus two trumps’, Age, 2 June 1972, p. 9.

  In a February conversation with Paul Hasluck, McMahon said he believed Lee had behaved ‘in the most extraordinary manner’ when he informed McMahon of this decision to stay away. ‘He must have taken leave of his senses’, McMahon said, of Lee’s explanation that he would delay any visit in to see ‘who was really going to be the Prime Minister of Australia’. The letter he sent was ‘most offensive’. See Hasluck, ‘McMahon’s plans for February, 1972’, NAA: M1767, 3.

  Allan Barnes, ‘Jakarta to get $75m in new aid’, Age, 7 June 1972, p. 1.

  Hugh Armfield, ‘Liberal gloom, Labour joy on that speech’, Age, 10 June 1972, p. 1.

  John Lombard, ‘Fairbairn is upset, too’, Sun, 10 June 1972, p. 2.

  Author’s interview with Bob Bowker, 24 January 2018.

  Neil O’Reilly, ‘Govt “interference”’, Sun, 13 June 1972, p. 6; Allan Barnes, ‘PM in new Asia defence row’, Age, 13 June 1972, p. 1, 7.

  Author’s interview with Richard Woolcott, 2 February 2018.

  Author’s interview with Jonathan Gaul, 24 February 2018.

  Neil O’Reilly, ‘Govt “interference”, Sun, 13 June 1972, p. 6.

  Author’s interview with Bob Bowker, 24 January 2018.

  ‘Political leaders in trouble’, CN, 13 June 1972, p. 2.

  Jim Quirk, ‘Aussies blush at PM’s blues’, DM, 13 June 1972.

  ‘Defence myths exploded: MP’, Age, 14 June 1972, p. 5.

  ‘South-East Asian Visit’, McMahon television statement, 18 June 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  Chapter 43: The Unequal Struggle

  Bowman diary, 21 March 1984.

  ibid., 22 March 1984.

  ibid., 23 March 1984.

  ibid., 3 April 1984.

  Chapter 44: Dither and Irresolution

  Maximilian Walsh, ‘Byelection could be key to backing for Govt’, SMH, 25 June 1972, p. 11.

  ‘Still no noise on nuclear test’, DM, 13 June 1972, p. 4.

  Bunting to McMahon, ‘Mr Anthony’, 27 June 1972, Bunting, note for file, ‘Conversation with Waller’, 26 June 1972, and Bunting, note for file, 8.40am, 17 June 1972, all in NAA: M319, 35 Part 1; ‘French envoy, PM differ on N-tests’, CT, 20 June 1972, pp. 1, 3.

  Bunting, note for file, 8.40am, 17 June 1972, NAA: M321, 16.

  McMahon, ‘Nuclear tests’, 21 June 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  McMahon, interviewed by John Boland and Max Grant, ‘This Week’, 25 June 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  See McMahon, ‘Commonwealth/State Relations: Macquarie Network Weekly Broadcast’, 28 June 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  Alan Reid diary, 22 June 1972, NLA MS7796.

  Rohan Rivett, ‘17-year reign may end in August’, CT, 22 June 1972, p. 13.

  Henry Bolte interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/73, 1:1/16.

  Hasluck, ‘Mr McMahon’s views on honours’, 2 May 1972, NAA: M1767, 3.

  McMahon, ‘Sir Henry Bolte’s retirement’, 11 July 1972, PM no. 66/1972, APMC Transcripts.

  Coombs to McMahon, quoted by Brennan, in Bramston (ed.), 2013, p. 256.

  Cabinet decision no. 1303 (AA), ‘Acquisition of Wave Hill Lease from Vesteys; surrender of land from Wave Hill Station’, 24 August 1972, NAA: A5909, 1303/AA.

  ‘Campers on Parliament House Lawns’, aide-mémoire, 27 June 1972, NAA: A5882, CO1396.

  ibid. McMahon signed and dated the list on 27 June 1972.

  Bailey to McMahon, 27 June 1972, ‘Aboriginal campers on lawns in front of Parliament House’, ibid.

  Harris, 1972, p. 28.

  McNally, 1973, pp. 85–86.

  ibid.

  ibid.

  Waugh to McMahon, July 1972, NAA: A463, 1972/3200 Part 1.

  Bobbi Sykes, in Foley, Schaap, and Howell (eds), 2014, pp. 165–68.

  See Coombs, 1981, pp. 290–91.

  Howson, 1984, p. 892.

  Hunt, CPD HoR, vol. 79, 15 August 1972, pp. 22–26.

  Bunting, note for file, 13 September 1972, NAA: M319, 37.

  Killen, CPD HoR, vol. 80, 13 September 1972, pp. 1306–09.

  Whitlam, ibid., pp. 1282.

  Bunting note for file, 23 January 1972, NAA: M321, 16.

  Alan Reid diary, 1 February 1972, NLA MS7796.

  Lynch, CPD HoR, vol. 75, 7 December 1971, pp. 4176–89.

  Cameron, ibid., pp. 4189–204.

  ‘DLP threat on arbitration’, CT, 10 January 1972, p. 1. For the legal background of the amalgamation of the AMWU, see: Michael Kirby, 2014, pp. 123–45.

  See Alan Reid diary, 22 February 1972, NLA MS7796; David Solomon, ‘Backbench anger at union merger’, CT, 25 February 1972, p. 1; ‘Government defies DLP’, CT, 1 March 1972, p. 3.

  Howson, 1984, p. 829.

  Snedden and Schedvin, 1990, pp. 131–2; Chipp and Larkin, 1978, p. 127.

  ‘Aid for unionists fighting move for merger’, CT, 6 April 1972, p. 1.

  ‘At least 51pc vote sought in merger plans’, CT, 26 April 1972, p. 13.

  Howson, 1984, p. 853. Don Chipp would later claim that McMahon had held up the discussion of the measures until he had learned the DLP’s views. When the DLP’s opposition came through — on grounds that abolition of compulsory unionism would loosen its grip on the Federated Clerks’ Union — McMahon abandoned it, in spite of the apparent support of a majority of cabinet. See Chipp and Larkin, 1978, p. 127.

  Howson, 1984, p. 856.

  ‘Minor changes in arbitration’, CT, 28 Apri
l 1972, p. 2.

  ‘Oil talks within the week demanded’, CT, 15 June 1972, p. 9.

  ‘Oil workers defy strikes ban’, CT, 22 June 1972, p. 8.

  ‘Refinery men walk off job’, CT, 23 June 1972, p. 3.

  ‘Oil strikers to meet’, CT, 14 July 1972, p. 1.

  ‘Oil unions seek return on Tuesday’, CT, 15 July 1972, p. 1.

  Bunting, ‘Oil industry dispute’, 22 July 1972, NAA: M319, 35 Part 2.

  Bunting, ‘Oil industry dispute’, 26 July 1972, ibid.

  ‘Ad Hoc Committee — cabinet minute — oil industry — industrial dispute —without submission’, NAA: A5909, 1226/AD HOC.

  D’Alpuget, 1982, p. 204.

  David Solomon, ‘Oil companies demand full end to strike’, CT, 28 July 1972, pp. 1, 8.

  ‘Without submission — oil industry dispute’, 30 July 1972, NAA: A5909, 1243/AD HOC.

  Bunting, ‘Oil industry dispute’, 29 July 1972, NAA: M319, 35 Part 2.

  Bunting, ‘Oil industry dispute’, 30 July 1972, ibid.

  ‘PM’s statement’, CT, 31 July 1972, p. 6.

  Bunting, notes for file, 7.45am and 31 July 1972, NAA: M319, 35 Part 2.

  Bunting, ‘Oil’, 31 July 1972, ibid.

  Howson, 1984, p. 893.

  ‘Unnecessary: Hawke’, CT, 31 July 1972, p. 1.

  ‘Pledge by PM’, CT, 1 August 1972, p. 1.

  Bunting, ‘Oil’, 8.05am 1 August 1972, NAA: M321, 16.

  Bunting, note for file, 7.05pm 1 August 1972, NAA: M319, 36 Part 1.

  After a conversation with Malcolm Fraser, Peter Howson had noted the existence of a ‘militant’ faction within the cabinet, who were supposedly egging McMahon on. See Howson, 1984, p. 893.

  ‘Without submission — oil strike legislation’, 1 August 1972, NAA: A5909, 1259/LEG.

  McMahon, ‘Oil industry dispute: Meeting of Parliament’, 1 August 1972, PM no. 76/1972, APMC Transcripts.

  David Solomon, ‘Judge’s action opens way to settlement’, CT, 2 August 1972, pp. 1, 12.

  Alan Reid diary, 1 August 1972, NLA MS7796.

  ibid., 2 August 1972.

  Tony Stephens, ‘PM had “no focus, no trust, not up to job”’, SMH, 1 January 2003, p. 3.

  Snedden and Schedvin, 1990, p. 134.

  Bunting, note for file, 2 August 1972, NAA: M319, 36 Part 1.

  Alan Reid diary, 3 August 1972, NLA MS7796.

  Tony Stephens, ‘PM had “no focus, no trust, not up to job”’, SMH, 1 January 2003, p. 3.

  Snedden, CPD HoR, vol. 79, 15 August 1972, pp. 40–53.

  Whitlam, CPD HoR, vol. 79, 22 August 1972, pp. 509–19.

  ‘Liberal minister fears means test is killer’, Aus., 11 February 1972, p. 1.

  Cabinet decision no. 1209 (BRE), ‘Means test’, 23 July 1972, NAA: A5909, 1209 (BRE); cabinet decision no. 1211, ‘Means test’, 27 July 1972, NAA: A5909, 1211; Snedden and Schedvin, 1990, pp. 122–24.

  Lawler, ‘Note for file, ‘Handling of social and welfare submissions for budget’, 16 July 1972, NAA: M319, 16.

  Bunting, n.d., August [?] 1972, NAA: M319, 36 Part 1.

  Bunting, n.d., July 1972, NAA: M319, 35 Part 2.

  Bunting, 22 July 1972, ibid.

  Bunting, ‘Budget meetings’, n.d., July 1972, ibid.

  David Solomon, ‘Budget leaks and car prices’, CT, 15 August 1972, p. 2.

  McMahon, ‘The 1972/3 budget — Snedden and Reid’, aide-mémoire, undated, copy in the author’s possession.

  Alan Reid diary, 8 July and 4 August 1972, NLA MS7796.

  ibid., 15 August 1972.

  Whitlam, CPD HoR, vol. 79, 15 August 1972, p. 139 and 22 August 1972, pp. 509–19.

  Snedden and Schedvin, 1990, pp. 135–37.

  Author’s correspondence with Doug Anthony, 25 July 2016.

  Bert Kelly diary, 23 August 1972, NLA MS7424.

  Alan Reid diary, 23 August 1972, NLA MS7796.

  Oakes and Solomon, 1973, pp. 81–82.

  Hughes, 1973, pp. 63–81.

  Chapter 45: Tributes

  David Bowman diary, 11 April 1984.

  ibid., 13 April 1984.

  ibid., 17–27 April 1984.

  ibid., 30 April 1984.

  ibid., 1 May 1984.

  Chapter 46: ‘Where We Are Heading’

  McMahon to Hartcher, August 1971, in Starr, 1980, p. 246.

  McMahon to Fraser, 31 August 1972, NAA: M442, 41.

  Minutes of Joint Standing Committee on federal policy, 3 September 1971, quoted in Starr, 1980, pp. 246–47.

  Robert Southey, ‘Changes and challenges’, 29 May 1972, quoted in Starr, 1980, p. 247; Oakes and Solomon, 1973, pp. 114–15. For substantial documentation of the results, see ‘Policy sub-committees 1969–1972’, Papers of Robert Southey, NLA MS9901/1/143.

  Oakes and Solomon, 1973, p. 120.

  Martin Reith, ‘The Federal Council Meeting of the Liberal Party, Canberra, 8/9 June 1970’, FCO 24/677, British National Archives, Kew, London; Oakes and Solomon, 1973, p. 129.

  Bunting, note for file, 23 September 1972, NAA: M319, 37.

  Cabinet decision no. 1462, ‘Secrecy in Government’, 25 October 1972, NAA: A5908, 907.

  Drake-Brockman, CPD Sen., vol. 53, 12 September 1972, pp. 689–92.

  Kenneth Anderson interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/90.

  Anderson, CPD Sen., vol. 47, 8 March 1972, pp. 551–53.

  Kenneth Anderson interviewed by Mel Pratt, NLA Oral History, TRC 121/90.

  Cabinet decision no. 270 (M), ‘Assistance to students — Commonwealth Advanced Education Scholarship Scheme’, 21 July 1971, NAA: A5908, 170.

  Cabinet decision no. 1179, (BRE), ‘Assistance to tertiary level students’, 21 July 1972, NAA: A5908, 756.

  Cabinet decision no. 141 (GA), ‘Constitution of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Advanced Education as a Statutory Advisory Body’, NAA: A5909, 141/GA; Cabinet decision no. 1155 (BRE), ‘Financial assistance to universities and colleges of advanced education 1973–1975’, 21 July 1972, NAA: A5909, 1155/BRE; Cabinet decision no. 1233 (BRE), ‘Financial assistance to universities and colleges of advanced education’, 27 July 1972, NAA: A5909, 1233/BRE.

  McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 78, 11 May 1972, pp. 2455–58.

  Cabinet decision no. 1156 (BRE), ‘The teaching of Asian languages and culture’, 21 and 23 July 1972, NAA: A5908, 746.

  Cabinet decision no. 1232 (BRE), ‘Assistance to secondary level students’, 27 July 1972, NAA: A5908, 757.

  McMahon, ‘The budget’, 16 August 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  McMahon to Fraser, 1 September 1972, NAA: M442, 41.

  Gorton, ‘Federal Elections 1969 Policy Speech’, 8 October 1969, APMC Transcripts.

  Lynch, CPD HoR, vol. 81, 10 October 1972, pp. 2288–95. Tony Street, the minister assisting the minister for labour and national service, said during the debate that ‘everybody would agree that the best place for a very young child is with its mother’. See CPD HoR, vol. 81, 24 October 1972, pp. 3061–62.

  Brennan, 1998, pp. 67–69.

  Logan, Sumsion, and Press, 2013, pp. 84–91.

  ‘Education and child care: Macquarie Network weekly broadcast’, 14 September 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  Denoon, 2005, p. 101.

  Troy Bramston, ‘Andrew Peacock: Colt from Kooyong on what might have been’, Aus., 17 December 2016, p. 18.

  Cabinet decision no. 1347 (AD HOC), ‘Papua New Guinea programme of movement towards internal self-government report on initial discussions’, 12 September 1972, NAA: A5909, 1347/AD HOC; cabinet decision no. 980 (PNG), ‘Papua New Guinea: programme of movement towards internal self-government’, 18 May 1972, NAA: A5909, 980/PNG.

 
Troy Bramston, ‘Andrew Peacock: Colt from Kooyong on what might have been’, Aus., 17 December 2016, p. 18.

  Loane, in Paul, 1972, pp. 106–09.

  Kelly and McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 77, 26 April 1972, pp. 1976–77.

  Cabinet decisions 972 and 1004, ‘Poverty Enquiry’, 16 May and 24 May 1972, NAA: A5909, 972; A5909, 1004.

  McMahon, interviewed by John Boland and Max Grant, ‘This Week’, 25 June 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  Cabinet decision no. 1228, ‘Poverty enquiry’, 20 July 1972, NAA: A5909, 1228.

  ‘Gorton calls for means-test end’, CT, 28 July 1972, p. 3.

  Cabinet decision no. 1255, ‘Poverty enquiry’, 15 August 1972, NAA: A5909, 1255; Brown, McMahon, CPD HoR, vol. 79, 15 August 1972, p. 10.

  Cabinet decision no. 1271, ‘Poverty enquiry’, 17 August 1972, NAA: A5909, 1271.

  Cabinet decision no. 1273, ‘Poverty enquiry’, 22 August 1972, NAA: A5909, 1273; McMahon, ‘Enquiry into poverty’, 29 August 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  McMahon, interviewed by Paul Lynch, ‘The budget’, 16 August 1972, APMC Transcripts.

  McMahon, ‘Terrorist attack at Munich’, 6 September 1972, PM no. 83/1972, APMC Transcripts.

  Waller, ‘Terrorist attack on Israeli athletes competing at Olympic Games, Munich 1972’, 11 September 1972, NAA: A1209, 1972/6887.

  McMahon, Whitlam, Cohen, CPD HoR, vol. 80, 12 September 1972, pp. 1119–20.

  Aarons, 2001, p. 428.

  ibid., p. 431.

  Cameron, in Hocking, 1997, p. 146.

  Murphy, CPD Sen., vol. 53, 19 September 1972, pp. 918–22.

  Bunting, note for file, 9.40am 18 September 1972, NAA: M319, 37.

  Bunting, ‘Violence and terrorism’, 18 September 1972, NAA: A5882, CO1528.

  McMahon’s annotations on Greenwood submission, ‘Terrorism and violence in Australia’, 29 September 1972, ibid.

  Cabinet decision no. 1406, ‘Terrorism and violence in Australia’, 10 October 1972, NAA: A5909, 1406.

  For an overview of how the September attacks and the government’s response figures in the development of counter-terrorism in Australia, see Finnane, 2015, pp. 817–36.

  ‘The role of the Commonwealth in urban affairs’, 3 March 1972, NAA: A5908, 572.

  Bunting, 5.15pm and 10.30pm 12 April 1972, NAA: M319, 33 Part 1.