Amid the furore over Scott Morrison’s secret ministerial powers, a precedent of the governor-general knocking back federal government appointments has raised questions about the actions of the incumbent, David Hurley.

Less than two years after Gough Whitlam was dismissed by governor-general John Kerr, the Queen’s man in Canberra made front-page headlines in The Australian Financial Review by blocking the Fraser government’s advice on who should head a newly created government department.