8 episodes

The Eleventh is an explosive thriller teasing out everything you never knew about one of the most famous chapters of Australian political history — the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

The Eleventh ABC listen

    • History
    • 4.9 • 37 Ratings

The Eleventh is an explosive thriller teasing out everything you never knew about one of the most famous chapters of Australian political history — the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

    07 | State Secrets

    07 | State Secrets

    In the days, months and years following The Dismissal, more clues emerge about exactly what went down, and who was pulling strings behind the scenes. In this final episode, we uncover the key names and players history almost left behind, and those still fighting to reveal them.

    More information, articles and videos at the show's website: abc.net.au/TheEleventh

    *WARNING: This episode contains some strong language.

    • 57 min
    06 | The Eleventh

    06 | The Eleventh

    The 11th of November 1975 starts optimistically. Both sides of parliament think the day will present them with a positive resolution to the crisis. But, when Gough Whitlam is summoned to see the Governor General, things spiral completely out of control.

    More information, articles and videos at the show's website: abc.net.au/TheEleventh

    • 48 min
    05 | Deadlock

    05 | Deadlock

    Gough Whitlam and his political rival Malcolm Fraser enter a high stakes stalemate, each side daring the other to blink. As the problems mount for the government, a grave warning emerges from the most unlikely of quarters.

    More information, articles and videos at the show's website: abc.net.au/TheEleventh

    • 52 min
    04 | The Advisor

    04 | The Advisor

    Young feminist Elizabeth Reid gets a job advising Gough Whitlam on women's issues. As this idealistic new recruit tries to work within the system to change it, she gets caught smack in the middle of an epic struggle between the nation's most powerful men.

    More information, articles and videos at the show's website: abc.net.au/TheEleventh

    • 40 min
    03 | Dangerous Circus

    03 | Dangerous Circus

    Gough Whitlam repeatedly ignores warnings while his government lurches from scandal to scandal. The powerful media, once in his corner, start to lose faith, and the twin scandals — the Morosi affair and the Loans affair — are frontpage news.

    More information, articles and videos at the show's website: abc.net.au/TheEleventh

    *WARNING: This episode contains some strong language.

    • 43 min
    02 | Black Orchids

    02 | Black Orchids

    The Government raids ASIO because they suspect the spy agency has dropped the ball on tracking terrorism. The raid causes panic as far afield as the Langley, Virginia, headquarters of the US Central Intelligence Agency. A keen young Australian correspondent called Ray Martin gets a scoop on the story.

    More information, articles and videos at the show's website: abc.net.au/TheEleventh

    *WARNING: This episode contains some strong language.

    • 35 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
37 Ratings

37 Ratings

OliveIam ,

Intriguing | best real political drama

Every listener interested in Australian politics should listen. Loved it & it successfully provided the back story I was missing in my knowledge of Whitlam’s sacking.

mjchannon ,

Strong story telling.

Like the premise of the story, I was myself never fully aware of the entirety of the ins and outs of this gigantic event. All we ever got was Gough giving us his eloquent rebuttals: what a toastmaster! Genius orator.
But this podcast was something else. Riveting. Thrilling and exciting. I listened with my Kurdish partner with awe and baited breath. I wanted her to hear along with me a part of my cultural heritage and she was hooked instantly. We live in the U.K. but I was home all the way. I was born in 1970, in Sydney and moved west to West Wylong and Grenfell in the 70s. I heard what I thought there was all to hear, but I never heard hardly any of it.
But now, I’ve got the whole darn story of intrigue and espionage that none could make up. We know that Pine Gap exists but always knew that no one knows what it is. It’s our non-sovereignty complicity. A horrible infringement. And now we can see the binds that tie us, the beds we sleep in, and the friends we have.

And it’s fascinating.

Hollywood-um, what about this story instead of another rehash our remake??

mcgregormt ,

One of the best politics podcasts, ever.

I’m not Australian and don’t know tons about the country’s history but enough to listen to this and I was gripped. It’s brilliant history story-telling, and a brilliant political education whatever country you’re in. Fantastic podcasting.

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