After the dismissal The news that Whitlam had been dismissed spread across Australia during the afternoon, resulting in angry protest demonstrations by his supporters. Over the following month, leading to the double dissolution election scheduled for 13 December 1975, Whitlam and ALP supporters constantly and intensely denigrated Kerr, no doubt in the belief that the electorate would prove sympathetic to the deposed Labor government. In the ensuing election campaign, the Australian Labor Party's focus was predominantly on the asserted illegitimacy of the dismissal (with the slogan of "Shame Fraser, Shame"), while the Coalition focused on criticism of Labor's economic management. Some expected a major backlash against Fraser in favour of Whitlam (who had launched his campaign by calling upon his supporters to "maintain your rage"), based on opinion polls in October and early November which had shown disapproval of Fraser's tactics. Once the election was called, however, the majority focused on the economy and responded to the Liberals' slogan "Turn on the lights". Despite the passion of Labor supporters, furious at what they saw as an establishment plot to destroy a Labor government, Labor suffered its greatest-ever loss (7.4% down on its 1974 vote) at the hands of the Coalition, which continued to hold power until 1983.
after the dismissal the news that whitlam had been dismissed spread across australia during the afternoon resulting in angry protest demonstrations by his supporters over the following month leading to the double dissolution election scheduled for 13 december 1975 whitlam and alp supporters constantly and intensely denigrated kerr no doubt in the belief that the electorate would prove sympathetic to the deposed labor government in the ensuing election campaign the australian labor party's focus was predominantly on the asserted illegitimacy of the dismissal (with the slogan of "shame fraser shame") while the coalition focused on criticism of labor's economic management some expected a major backlash against fraser in favour of whitlam (who had launched his campaign by calling upon his supporters to "maintain your rage") based on opinion polls in october and early november which had shown disapproval of fraser's tactics once the election was called however the majority focused on the economy and responded to the liberals' slogan "turn on the lights" despite the passion of labor supporters furious at what they saw as an establishment plot to destroy a labor government labor suffered its greatest-ever loss (74% down on its 1974 vote) at the hands of the coalition which continued to hold power until 1983