Gough Whitlam was fired in 1975, as the US was pulling out anyway. He was fired because the Senate had blocked supply, and he was trying to secure alternative f

Gough Whitlam was fired in 1975, as the US was pulling out anyway. He was fired because the Senate had blocked supply, and he was trying to secure alternative funding (which just isn't done). Kerr (the Governor General, who was mostly a figurehead but is technically the acting head of state) and Fraser (leader of the opposition) both suggested compromises. Whitlam thought that he didn't need the Senate or GG's cooperation, and that the whole "Westminister system" was a formality he could do without. So they sacked him. tl;dr - there was a Constitutional crisis, with the House and Senate disagreeing. The Prime Minister didn't want to negotiate, or call for a new election, so he was removed.