Gough Whitlam

[twinkles**stars]

Passed away aged 98

[j*oono]

A new low.

RIP Gough Whitlam.  You will be missed.

[cherry*135]

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has issued a statement saying Mr Whitlam will be remembered for "his lifetime of service to Australia in the Royal Australian Air Force, as a parliamentarian, as Prime Minister and as an ambassador".

"Gough Whitlam was a giant of his time," Mr Abbott said.

"Gough Whitlam recognised the journey that our country needed to take with indigenous Australians. The image of soil passing from Gough Whitlam's hand to Vincent Lingiari's is a reminder that all Australians share the same land and the same hopes.

"Gough Whitlam's life was inseparable from that of Margaret Whitlam. Margaret Whitlam was a leading light for women of her generation. Together they made a difference to our country."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/the-pulse-live/former-prime-minister-gough-whitlam-dead-at-98...

[bluecat*dancing]

"From Little Things Big Things Grow"

Eight years went by, eight long years of waiting
Till one day a tall stranger appeared in the land
And he came with lawyers and he came with great ceremony
And through Vincent's fingers poured a handful of sand

From little things big things grow
From little things big things grow

[pct001wine]

RIP Gough Whitlam, a man of vision who in his short time as PM did more to drag us out of our colonial and isolationist stupor than anyone. Huge in stature both physically and ideologically.  Spare a thought too for Margaret Whitlam, now passed for 2 years, who was an amazing partner to Gough for so many years.  They were very similar - intelligent, fiercely proud of Australian people of all creeds, flawed (aren't we all ?), and driven to make Australia a better, more egalitarian place for everyone, not just the rich and privileged.

Vale Gough, you will be missed.

[azureline**]

I remember his speeches in 1972 and again 1975, can't say I recall any other pollies speeches so clearly.

[polksaladallie]

Social justice, at the core of every policy.

Medibank/Medicare.   (How I wish I could have gone to a doctor).

[boris1gary]

It's amusing to read what bolter and jones had to say about Gough Whitlam considering if they are remembered at all it will be - bolt - found guilty of racism and jones - found guilty of inciting racial hatred, charged with 'outraging public decency' and 'committing an indecent act' and has been sued too many times for defamation to list

[tall_bearded01]

RIP is not something I would use, as something like … is more fitting.   And there are many who will agree, especially those who served in the armed forces from the late 60’s to mid 70’s.

So add these to you list.

1 – Political opportunist. Because it suited his political agenda at the time, he, by both action and deliberate omission, sanctioned the vilification, marginalisation and alienation of a significant sector of the Australian community, whose only crime was to do ones duty; a rift which took three decades to heal, and in some cases has. never healed.

2 - Was prepared to send Australian service personal into harm’s way without so much a 9mm pistol to defend themselves with.

Like I said, RIP doesn’t even remotely describe the emotions I have at his passing.

[boris1gary]

http://www.independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/vale-the-great-gough-whitlam,7018

Vale the great Gough Whitlam

Vale Gough Whitlam, former Australian prime minister and hero, not only of Australia, but to all true progressives everywhere, who died this morning aged 98.

After decades of regressive, sclerotic conservative governments holding Australia in hiatus as a permanent provincial backwater,Gough Whitlam rescued Australia in 1972 and brought countless reforms to advance the nation in virtually every area of Australian life.

Whitlam Government changes to public health,Indigenous land rights, social security, higher education, Australian identity and foreign affairs – amongst countless others – have left deep and lasting impressions upon the Australia way of life, quality of life and the way we view ourselves and the world.

After a sinister plot by his political foes, assisted by foreign actors, Gough Whitlam was removed from office in a virtual coup in 1975. Although his premature exit from power left many of his aspirations for the nation unfulfilled, Gough did not take the path of vengeance or self-pity, but continued practicing tolerance and treading the noble path of democracy for all his remaining days.

An incredible orator, a brilliant mind, an inspiration for the masses, Gough Whitlam was a leader of stunning charisma, ability and vision. Independent Australia mourns the sad passing of this great Australian — the like of which we may never see again.

[boris1gary]

http://theaimn.com/a-giant-of-a-man-yes-he-was-indeed/

  “A Giant of a Man”. Yes he was indeed.

His record:

1. ended Conscription,
2. withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam,
3. implemented Equal Pay for Women,
4. launched an Inquiry into Education and the Funding of Government and Non-government Schools on a Needs Basis,
5. established a separate ministry responsible for Aboriginal Affairs,
6. established the single Department of Defence,
7. withdrew support for apartheid–South Africa,
8. granted independence to Papua New Guinea,
9. abolished Tertiary Education Fees,
10. established the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme (TEAS),
11. increased pensions,
12. established Medibank,
13. established controls on Foreign Ownership of Australian resources,
14. passed the Family Law Act establishing No-Fault Divorce,
15. passed a series of laws banning Racial and Sexual Discrimination,
16. extended Maternity Leave and Benefits for Single Mothers,
17. introduced One-Vote-One-Value to democratize the electoral system,
18. implemented wide-ranging reforms of the ALP’s organization,
19. initiated Australia’s first Federal Legislation on Human Rights, the Environment and Heritage,
20. established the Legal Aid Office,
21. established the National Film and Television School,
22. launched construction of National Gallery of Australia,
23. established the Australian Development Assistance Agency,
24. reopened the Australian Embassy in Peking after 24 years,
25. established the Prices Justification Tribunal,
26. revalued the Australian Dollar,
27. cut tariffs across the board,
28. established the Trade Practices Commission,
29. established the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service,
30. established the Law Reform Commission,
31. established the Australian Film Commission,
32. established the Australia Council,
33. established the Australian Heritage Commission,
34. established the Consumer Affairs Commission,
35. established the Technical and Further Education Commission,
36. implemented a national employment and training program,
37. created Telecom and Australia Post to replace the Postmaster-General’s Department,
38. devised the Order of Australia Honors System to replace the British Honors system,
39. abolished appeals to the Privy Council,
40. changed the National Anthem to ‘Advance Australia Fair’,
41. instituted Aboriginal Land Rights, and
42. sewered most of Sydney.

RIP Gough Whitlam.