Paul Keating would have put the governor-general who sacked the Whitlam government under police arrest, the former prime minister has revealed, 50 years on from the "destructive" dismissal that defined Australian politics.

Former prime minister Gough Whitlam was dismissed on the front steps of Old Parliament House on November 11, 1975, over a deadlock which could have seen Australia run out of money for crucial services.

Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser had refused to pass Mr Whitlam's budget, leading to a constitutional crisis Governor-General Sir John Kerr resolved by firing the prime minister and appointing Mr Fraser to the role.

Mr Keating said he told Mr Whitlam in the aftermath of the dismissal he should have gone directly to Queen Elizabeth II to have Mr Kerr sacked.

"In the event

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