Why was Kerr Ever Appointed?

Many people ask why Whitiam appointed Kerr when he knew (certainly) of Kerr's right-wing, anti-Australian background. The basic reason is that the US government, through its State Department, was becoming increasingly concerned at the Whitiam government's tentative moves to align Australia more with the Asian and other Third world countries and less with America. The Americans had no wish to lose the enormous economic, political and military stranglehold they had tightened on Australia in the years following World War II — nor was Whitiam willing or able to displease too much his powerful American "allies". Consequently, he appointed Kerr as Governor General (knowing full-well his background) in order to appease the Americans, and to assure them that they still had their finger on the trigger !

Of course, it was only 1½ years before Whitiam realised his monumental mistake. Too late, though, for the Australian people. If Kerr's actions did nothing else, they provided a huge boost for the movement to make Australia an independent republic, beholden to no country — neither an anachronistic British (figurehead) monarchy, nor a modern imperialist superpower, competing for control of other countries with a rival superpower.

Dave Macpherson.