In the lead up to the November 1975 dismissal of the Whitlam government by the Governor General, letters were exchanged between the Queen’s Private Secretary Sir Martin Charteris and Sir John Kerr. These letters are held in the National Archives. Through an action in the Federal Court, Prof. Jenny Hocking sought to have these released. The issue turned on whether the letters are “private” or commonwealth. The court has held that they are private, so it is up to the Palace as to whether we are entitled to see the documents. From what Prof. Hocking has uncovered, the Palace was much more involved than has been previously realised.

Jenny Hocking talks to David Barr about this colonial carry-over on Drive Tuesday.