About

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1975 dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, the most dramatic constitutional crisis in Australia’s history. On 11 November 1975, Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Whitlam and appointed Malcolm Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister, triggering a national election and reshaping Australian politics.

Join us as we revisit this pivotal moment in our democracy and reflect on its enduring legacy (and discuss if it could happen again).

Attendees will be eligible for 1.5 CPD points in substantive law. Collegiality to follow.

The state of play in the lead up to the Dismissal
Speaker 1: Prof Sarah Murray, UWA 

Dr Sarah Murray is a Professor at the University of Western Australia where she teaches Constitutional Law and researches in public law, electoral law and court innovation. She has published extensively in Australia and overseas and was part of the UWA-led team which was successful with a national Australian Research Council multi-year bid to digitise the drafting of the Australian Constitution, in partnership with Go8 Law Schools and Oxford University.

Speaker 2: Craig Bydder SC, Solicitor General for WA 

Craig Bydder SC is the Solicitor-General of Western Australia. Mr Bydder has spent more than two decades working for the State Solicitor's Office (SSO) after being admitted to practice in 1999. In October 2022 he was appointed a Senior Counsel.

On the ground as a constitutional law student
Speaker 3: Neil Douglas, McLeods Lawyers

Mr Douglas has practised predominantly in the public law field dealing with governance and administrative law issues affecting federal, state and local governments, statutory authorities, agencies and employees. Mr Douglas' background includes exntensive experience working in senior positions in the Attorney-General's Department in Canberra, the Australian Government Solicitor's Office and the State Solicitors' Office in Perth. 

Speaker 4: Martin Bennett, Principal Bennett Law

Mr Bennett is the principal at Bennett Law. For over 34 years, he has established himself as one of Perth’s leading advocates. Mr Bennett appears in the High Court, Federal Court and WA Supreme Court in all areas of civil and commercial litigation and regulation.

50 years later: Could a Dismissal happen again?
Speaker 5: Marina Georgiou, Barrister, Shoreline Chambers

Ms Georgiou has a broad practice and has experience in all areas of commercial and public law. Her commercial experience includes disputes in the areas of contract law and trade practices, corporations, consumer law, professional negligence, mining, real property and equity. She also has a strong background in administrative, constitutional, environment and planning and native title law.

This program is delivered by The Piddington Society, an accredited CPD Provider approved by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. CPD schemes in other Australian jurisdictions do not accredit or pre-approve providers or courses. As a result, practitioners outside Western Australia must self-assess this activity against the CPD rules in their home jurisdiction and determine whether it meets their professional development obligations. Certificates of completion are issued to assist with record-keeping, but the final decision as to compliance rests with the individual practitioner and their local regulator. Participants should also note that some jurisdictions impose caps on certain delivery modes (e.g. South Australia limits 5 units per CPD year for web-based/recorded programs).

Date

Tuesday 11 November 2025 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM (UTC+08)

Location

Exchange Tower
Level 8, 2 The Esplanade, enter from Sherwood Crt, Perth WA 6000

Contact Event Organiser