"Oh, come on". "Well, it looks a bit like him, I suppose".

These were some of the reactions to a controversial new portrait of Governor General Sir John Kerr, according to the front page of The Canberra Times on December 6, 1978.

The article said the "inappropriate" portrait of one of the most polarising figures in Australian history was unanimously rejected by a six-member Historic Memorials Committee.

The committee decided to commission another portrait of Sir John Kerr instead.

The committee was bipartisan, chaired by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, and also featured Opposition Leader Bill Hayden.

Archibald Prize winner, Queenslander Sam Fullbrook, was the artist behind the offending canvas.

Mr Fullbrook had already been paid $3000 for his efforts, and was expected to be paid a further $2000.

Mr Fullbrook said he was not upset by the rejection, claiming painting portraits was only "a licence to make enemies".

The portrait had been at Parliament House for two and a half months, but was not a public display. The media was treated to a brief showing of it, but a public viewing was not planned.

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/12385118