Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam was the twenty-first Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1972 until his dismissal in 1975 during a significant constitutional crisis. Born in 1916 in Melbourne, he was educated at the University of Sydney and served as a navigator in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II before entering politics. Whitlam was elected to the House of Representatives in 1952 and became the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in 1967, advocating for important reforms including the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam and various social policies.
His government is known for landmark initiatives such as abolishing university tuition fees, introducing national health insurance (Medibank), and establishing key cultural institutions. However, his time in office was marred by economic challenges and a scandal over the Overseas Loans affair, which ultimately led to his dismissal by the Governor-General. Whitlam's legacy remains contentious; he is seen both as a progressive reformer and as a figure who mismanaged the economy. After leaving office, he continued to influence Australian politics and culture until his death in 2014.
Gough Whitlam
- Born: 11 July 1916
Politician
Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia
Place of death: Sydney, Australia
Education: University of Sydney
Significance: Gough Whitlam was the twenty-first prime minister of Australia, serving from 1972 to 1975. He was infamously dismissed from office during a constitutional crisis stemming from the Overseas Loans affair.
Background
Edward Gough Whitlam was born in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, in 1916, to politician Frederick Whitlam and Martha Maddocks Whitlam. He had one younger sister, Freda. Whitlam's father worked at the office of the Crown Solicitor, and in 1921, the Whitlam family relocated to Sydney. Whitlam attended school at Mowbray House and Knox Grammar School. In 1926, the family moved to Canberra. There Whitlam was graduated from Telopea Park Intermediate High School. He later studied classics at Canberra Boys' Grammar School prior to university.
Whitlam then went on to earn a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Sydney in 1938. While studying law there in 1942, he left the university and enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force. Whitlam served in World War II as a navigator. He returned home in 1945 and joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
At the end of the war, Whitlam was motivated to take political action when he witnessed the failure of a Commonwealth referendum to expand post-war reconstruction in Australia. In 1946, Whitlam completed his university studies to become a barrister.
Whitlam was elected to the House of Representatives in 1952, for the seat of Werriwa in Sydney. He won the seat with a historic 66 per cent of votes. His family relocated from Cronulla to Cabramatta when the Werriwa electoral district was divided in 1955. Whitlam was elected deputy leader of the ALP in 1960. Whitlam became known as sharp wit and articulate debater in political proceedings.
Prime Minister
In 1963, Prime Minister Robert Menzies used to his advantage a photograph of Whitlam and ALP leader Arthur Calwell waiting outside the Hotel Kingston in Canberra. Within the hotel, the ALP's Federal Conference discussed policy. The press when publicising the photograph used the term "36 faceless men" to describe ALP leaders as being manipulated by a shadow group of unelected influencers. The scandal led to ALP's defeat in the ensuing election and prompted Whitlam to begin work as a reformist of the party.
Whitlam was elected the leader of the ALP and the Opposition in 1967, and launched what became known as the Program to reform the party from within. He gained public support for his position on removing troops from Vietnam.
On the strength of Whitlam's reforms, ALP came close to winning the election in 1969 but fell four seats short of victory. In 1972, ALP finally won its first victory in twenty-three years and Whitlam became Australia's twenty-first prime minister.
Whitlam would only serve three years in office, during which time he enacted many reforms and signed a record number of bills into law. Among the changes Whitlam government brought were an end to university tuition; the formation of a commission to more equitably fund government schools; and Whitlam's national health insurance program, Medibank.
Additionally, Whitlam oversaw many social reforms, including the decrease in the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen; the creation of the Legal Aid Office, Aboriginal Affairs, and Environment and Conservation, among other departments; and the writing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. Whitlam's government established the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian Film Commission and the Australia Council.
Despite progress on these fronts, Whitlam's ALP soon faced severe economic challenges and further scandal. Inflation and unemployment rose with government spending and decreased tariffs. Whitlam was criticised for his handling of the economy in the 1974 election, which ALP nonetheless managed to win.
Dismissal
After ALP's victory in the 1974 election, Whitlam's tenure as prime minister was terminated over a financial scandal known as the Overseas Loans affair. Government ministers were found to have conspired to source US$4 billion from Middle Eastern nations without state approval. The scandal, which resulted in Whitlam sacking Australia's treasurer and the minister for minerals and energy, became the basis for Opposition leadership to cause political deadlock over new legislation. To resolve the matter, Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed Whitlam from his duty as prime minister on 11 November 1975. Opposition leader Malcolm Fraser was then appointed in his place.
Whitlam continued to work in Parliament until July 1978 and later continued to work in Australian foreign affairs. He served as an UNESCO ambassador from 1983 to 1986 and chaired the National Gallery of Australia Council from 1987 to 1990. Whitlam also taught briefly at Australian National, Harvard, and Adelaide Universities and wrote about his political career. He died in Sydney in October 2014.
Impact
Whitlam's legacy in Australian politics is complex. Whitlam's detractors considered him an autocrat and spendthrift who was rightly dismissed for mishandling the Commonwealth's economy. He is the only Australian prime minister to be dismissed from office.
His supporters viewed him as a landmark reformist whose leadership ushered in needed change and new opportunities for Australian citizens. His work on health care in particular laid the groundwork for what is now Australia's Medicare program. He is notable for personally presenting the title deeds to Northern Territory lands to the Gurindji people at Wattie Creek. He was the subject of a 2002 documentary film, Gough Whitlam – In His Own Words.
Personal Life
Whitlam was married to Margaret Dovey from 1942 until her death in 2012. They had four children. Whitlam was a two-time quiz champion, winning the Australian National Quiz Championship in consecutive years, 1948 and 1949.
When he first entered the House of Representatives, Whitlam was nicknamed the Young Brolga, a reference to his tall stature and looming demeanour in political proceedings.
Bibliography
"Gough Whitlam." National Archives of Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, 2024, www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/gough-whitlam. Accessed 18 June 2024.
"Gough Whitlam: Five Ways He Changed Australia." BBC News, 21 Oct. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-29699576. Accessed 18 June 2024.
"Gough Whitlam Dies Aged 98; Former PM Remembered as 'Giant' of Australian Politics." ABC News, 21 Oct. 2014, www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/gough-whitlam-remembered-as-'giant'-of-australian-politics/5828836. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Griffiths, Emma. "Obituary: Former PM Gough Whitlam Dead at 98." ABC News, 22 Oct. 2014, www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-10/gough-whitlam/3945026. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Legge, Kate. "Now Whitlam Rages against the Dying of the Light." The Australian, 22 May 2010, www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/politics/now-whitlam-rages-against-the-dying-of-the-light/news-story/cceea133d66e5f5b9575933df652c80b. Accessed 18 June 2024.