Remembering former governor-general Sir Ninian Stephen

The strand begins in the spring of 1975, when the Labor Whitlam Government was plunged into crisis.

Liberal Opposition Leader Malcolm Fraser had delayed passing Treasurer Bill Hayden’s Budget through the Senate.

Governor General Sir John Kerr sought constitutional advice from the Chief Justice of the High Court, Sir Garfield Barwick.

Sitting in while Sir Garfield wrote his advice was his junior colleague Sir Ninian Stephen.

The advice clarified for Sir John his constitutional power to dismiss Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

On the political packed day of November 11, Sir John sacked the Prime Minister, appointed Malcolm Fraser caretaker Prime Minister; the Senate passed Treasurer Hayden’s Budget and the House of Representatives passed a no confidence motion in Malcolm Fraser; Sir John dissolved both Houses of Parliament and set the date of a double dissolution election the following month.

The twine next appears in the winter of 1982. Malcom Fraser is in his seventh year as Prime Minister, Bill Hayden is Opposition leader and Sir Ninian Stephen is appointed the 20^th Governor General of Australia.

It also coincides with Bob Hawke’s push for the Labor leadership.

In the summer of 1983 Prime Minister Fraser tried to catch Labor off guard by calling a snap election.

But Sir Ninian Stephen wanted to study the arguments for an election before setting the date.

While Malcolm Fraser cooled his heels and Sir Ninian pondered, Bill Hayden was replaced as leader by Bob Hawke.

A month later Sir Ninian swore in Bob Hawke as Prime Minister and Bill Hayden as Foreign Minister.

And then in the winter of 1988 the thread comes to the end of the line when, Bob Hawke announced that Bill Hayden would succeed Sir Ninian as Governor General.

Bill Hayden was sworn in as the 21^st Governor General of Australia the next year and Sir Ninian rounded off the political loom.