Dismissal anniversary panel discussions: Livestream event
Join us for a series of discussions exploring the 1975 dismissal.
When
Tuesday 11 November 2025
Duration
8:30am – 5:25pm
Cost
Free
From 8:30am on 11 November 2025, we will be livestreaming this event from the House of Representatives Chamber.
Tune in via our YouTube channel or join us at the Museum to watch the livestream from our Members' Bar, Senate Opposition Party Room, or King's Hall.
Program
Session 1
8:30am
Welcome
Mr Barrie Cassidy, Chair Old Parliament House
8:35am
Welcome to Country
Mr Paul Girrawah House, Ngambri-Ngunnawal Custodian
8:40am
Remarks
Her Excellency the Hon Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
8:50am
Framing a discussion on the 1975 dismissal – a political crisis not a constitutional one
Mr Kim Williams AM
9:05am
Ms Niki Savva in conversation with former prime minister Paul Keating
Pre-recorded interview
9:50am
1975: The moment Australian politics changed forever
Panel discussion
Mr Barrie Cassidy
Prof Jenny Hocking AM
The Hon Dr Barry Jones AC
Mr Paul Kelly
Mr Kerry O’Brien
11:00am
Remembrance Day
1 minute of silence
Session 2
11:30am
Behind the scenes: Political advisors share their stories
Panel discussion
Mr Troy Bramston
Mr Geoff Briot
Dr Elizabeth Cham
Mr Russell Schneider AM
Dr David Solomon AM
Ms Patti Warn
12:25pm
Who else joined Sir John Kerr for lunch on 11 November: Aide-de-Camp candidates at Government House
Panel discussion
Ms Niki Savva
Lt Col Bob Aley (Retd)
Mr Rod Allan
Lt Col Bill Denny AM BM (Retd)
Mr Chris Stephens
1:30pm
Mr Troy Bramston in conversation with Mr Garry McDonald
Session 3
2:15pm
In the red Chamber: The 1975 Senate revisited
Panel discussion
Mr Troy Bramston
Prof the Hon Gareth Evans AC KC
The Hon John Faulkner
The Hon Nick Minchin AO
The Hon Philip Ruddock AO
3:10pm
Friends to the end: The extraordinary friendship between the Hon Gough Whitlam AC QC and the Hon Sir James (Jim) Killen KCMG AC
Ms Niki Savva in conversation with Ms Diana Killen
3:45pm
Mr Barrie Cassidy in conversation with former prime minister John Howard
4:35pm
Could the dismissal happen again?
Panel discussion
The Hon Justice Michael Lee
The Hon Anna Burke AO
The Hon Margaret Reid AO
The Hon Scott Ryan
The Hon Tony Smith
Plan your visit
We are located inside Old Parliament House. Our address is 18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT. There are paid, short-stay spaces at the front and on either side of Old Parliament House. Paid, long-stay spaces are behind Old Parliament House on Queen Victoria Terrace and next to the Treasury and John Gorton Buildings, all a five-minute walk from our front entrance.
The accessible entrance and lift access is located through the doors on either side of the bottom of the central staircase.
The Members' Bar, Senate Club Room and King's Hall are accessible to wheelchair users.
Seating will be available in the Members' Bar, Senate Club Room and King's Hall.
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