The Night of the Long Prawns - Senate manipulation during the Whitlam era

This video tells a tale of political lies, manipulation and ineptitude in the filling casual Australian Senate vacancies during the tempestuous Whitlam era. It focuses on the Gair Affair, otherwise known as the 'Night of the Long Prawns', because it gives rise to the most interesting constitutional issues, including the constitutional disqualification of MPs for holding an office of profit under the Crown. It draws on primary documents from some of the participants to give a new perspective upon these events. It concludes with mention of subsequent attempts by State Premiers in New South Wales and Queensland to manipulate Senate numbers by breaching a convention about the filling of casual vacancies. This opening for manipulation was later closed by a constitutional amendment made in 1977 (as mentioned in the previous videos on anti-defection laws).