Anthony Albanese has attacked the removal of Gough Whitlam’s Labor government as an illegitimate “partisan political ambush” hatched by conservative forces, in a history wars intervention on the eve of the 50th ­anniversary of the Dismissal.

Ahead of Governor-General Sam Mostyn clarifying her position on reserve powers and that the definition of responsible government was no wider than it was for her predecessors, the Prime Minister delivered a scathing assessment of John Kerr’s decision to sack the Whitlam government.

Speaking at Old Parliament House, where Whitlam famously declared “Well may we say ‘God Save the Queen’ because nothing will save the governor-general”, Mr Albanese on Monday night said the Dismissal “sacrificed conventions and institutions in the pursuit of power”.

Gough Whitlam on the steps of Parliament House, Canberra, after the dismissal on 11th November 1975.

“Make no mistake: November 11th, 1975, was not a ‘constitutional crisis’ – it was a partisan poli