Who was the controversial 18th Governor General of Australia?

Sir John Robert Kerr, (24 September 1914 – 24 March 1991) was the 18th Governor-General of Australia. He dismissed the Labor government of Gough Whitlam on 11 November 1975, marking the climax of the most significant constitutional crisis in Australian history.

He had previously been the 13th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

On paper, the Australian Constitution gave the Governor-General wide-ranging powers, including the power to appoint and dismiss ministers and to dissolve Parliament. However, by 1975, the office was viewed as having become almost entirely ceremonial, and it was understood that in most cases the Governor-General was bound to act on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Whitlam and others held the view that the Governor-General had no discretion in the exercise of these powers; that they must always be exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister and never otherwise. Kerr and others disagreed fundamentally with this view, arguing the Constitution very clearly set out the Governor-General's powers.

Kerr was sworn in as the 18th Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force on 11 July 1974, succeeding Sir Paul Hasluck. Less than two years later (14 July 1977), his resignation was announced with effect from 8 December that year.

The Governor-General is usually offered a 5-year term upon appointment.