1993 constitutional crisis

The 1993 Australian constitutional crisis occurred when Prime Minister Paul Keating's government attempted to pass a budget that was blocked by the opposition-controlled Senate. In response, the Governor-General, Sir William Deane, exercised the reserve powers by dismissing Keating and appointing opposition leader John Hewson as caretaker Prime Minister, then calling for a double dissolution election. The crisis underscored tensions between parliamentary democracy and constitutional conventions, highlighting the powers of the Governor-General and the impact of a divided parliament. Ultimately, Keating returned to power after the election, reinforcing the constitutional system's stability despite the extraordinary events.