Mr Smith received lacerations when protesters smashed the window of the GG's Rolls-Royce as it arrived at a function in South Melbourne. Sir John and Lady Kerr were safely in the back seat.

The protest surrounded the Governor General's first visit to Melbourne since the 1975 dismissal of Gough Whitlam's Labour government.

Dye, ink and smoke bombs "exploded across and around the car and police motorcycle escort'', the report said.

"Demonstrators fought wildly with policemen and Sir John's car was diverted to a back entrance. There, 100 demonstrators shouted "Sieg heil" and booed."

Protesters, some wearing top hats, had earlier splattered an army staff car with eggs and yellow dye. At the end of the function the crowd had settled down somewhat.

As the Rolls Royce reemerged "Neither Sir John or Lady Kerr took any notice of the crowd and looked straight ahead as the car sped off".

The lead story on this day also related to cars, specifically two Japanese car makers, Nissan and Toyota, which had been given permission to enter the Australian market as part of a plan to maintain 85 per cent local content. How things would change.

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/14551010#