URGENT UPDATE: New revelations from the Nash family shed light on a covert phone call that could have changed Australia’s political landscape during the 1975 coup against then-Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Winsome Nash, a telephonist in Brisbane, overheard a conversation that allegedly revealed an extraordinary plot against the government.
This shocking disclosure comes as Australia marks the 50th anniversary of Whitlam’s dismissal, prompting the Nash family to finally share their mother’s haunting experience. On a routine afternoon in early July 1975, Nash received a call from Marshall Green, the American ambassador to Australia, to Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the Queensland Premier. What transpired during that call was alarming.
According to Winsome’s children, Barry and Helen Nash, their mother reported that Green pressured Bjelke-Petersen to appoint a “favourable” senator to replace the recently deceased Labor senator Bert Milliner. “Mum said Green stressed the importance of selecting someone hostile to Whitlam,” Barry recounted. This call, among others, left the family in a state of fear and secrecy.
The political stakes were high. Following Milliner’s death, the balance of power in the Senate was at risk. With 30 Coalition senators against 28 ALP, the appointment of a non-Labor senator could jeopardize Whitlam’s government. It was crucial for Bjelke-Petersen to maintain the convention of appointing a Labor successor.
The implications of the call were serious. The Nashes feared that revealing the details could endanger their family, given Green’s alleged connections to the CIA. Helen Nash described the immediate tension, saying, “Mum wanted to do the right thing, but if the Americans traced it back, she could go to prison.”
In the days after the initial call, Winsome overheard two more conversations between Green and Bjelke-Petersen, raising suspicions that Green was ensuring the Premier would act against Whitlam. The family was acutely aware that their mother had become an unwitting witness to political machinations that could lead to the downfall of a democratically elected government.
The ramifications of these phone calls extended beyond personal fears. On November 11, 1975, Whitlam was dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, leading to widespread speculation about U.S. involvement. Historians have since examined the political climate of the time, uncovering documents that suggest American officials were deeply concerned about the Whitlam government’s foreign policy and its potential impact on U.S. military interests in Australia.
Retired academic Stephen Stockwell stated that the Nash family’s account provides compelling evidence of U.S. interference in Australian politics. “This is clearly historical evidence of overreach by the United States in subverting a close ally’s democracy,” he noted.
As the nation reflects on this pivotal moment in history, the Nash family’s revelations raise critical questions about the integrity of democratic processes. “It was like being on the Titanic knowing you’re going to hit an iceberg,” Barry Nash said, capturing the family’s sense of helplessness in the face of overwhelming political forces.
The emotional weight of these revelations lingers. Winsome Nash passed away in 2009, and her husband, Joe, in 2016, but their children carry the burden of their mother’s secret. With this new insight, the Nash family’s story becomes a vital piece of Australia’s political narrative, reminding us of the interplay between power, secrecy, and democracy.
As the anniversary of Whitlam’s sacking approaches, it is clear that the echoes of this historical event continue to resonate. The family’s decision to finally speak out is a poignant reminder of the human cost of political intrigue and the importance of transparency in government.
