Edward Gough Whitlam, better known as Gough Whitlam, was the 21st Australian Prime Minister, leading the

Australian Labor Party to power in the 1972 election. He kept his position in the 1974 election, however, was dismissed by former GovernorGeneral Sir John Kerr in 1975 at the height of a major constitutional crisis. As Whitlam came into power, he had a new progressive approach to the Australian national identity and was keen to implement an extensive program of social reforms that would strongly affect a tender post-war Australia. Some of the many social reforms made by Gough Whitlam include the elimination of conscription, establishing an agency for Womens Affairs, launching an inquiry into education and funding, and establishing a universal health care system now known as Medicare. The Whitlam government also passed a large number of legislations; in 1973 alone, 203 bills were passed1. However, some of Whitlams most revolutionary acts and reforms contributed to Aboriginal rights. In August 1975, Whitlam gave the Gurindji People of the Northern Territory title deeds to part of their native lands. He also established the Aboriginal Land Rights Commission in 1973 which was set up to find ways for Aborigines in the Northern Territory to get their land rights. At the time, Indigenous people had little rights and recognition, but this set the ball rolling for Aboriginal land reform. The Racial Discrimination Act, 1975 (Cth) also recognised racial equality by making racial discrimination in areas such as employment and purchasing property illegal. Gough Whitlam has made substantial contribution to the modernisation of Australia and to social reform2. His recognition and enacting of Aboriginal rights had at the time began to pave the way for equality of all kinds in post-war Australia. His contribution has seen multiculturalism being embraced by the population and has, through the years, allowed for greater opportunity. Whitlam also contributed to general equality by reopening the equal pay case. This was the beginning of longawaited equal pay in Australia that has benefited us in making the workforce and economy stronger. Whitlam contributed greatly to the development of multiculturalism and equality in Australia. His time in office wielded some of the most groundbreaking reforms and legislations made throughout the post-war period. Gough Whitlam contributed to forming the very foundation of the way Australia functioned after WWI and Australia in the modern day.

1 2

Gough Whitlam; Prime Ministers and policies, skwirk.com Warhurst, John, Whitlam: Credit where it is due, the Canberra Times, 2002