Comments | miwahni: Gough Whitlam died today.

miwahni

Gough Whitlam died today.

Oct 21, 2014 21:27

Parliament was suspended, as a mark of respect to the passing of a great man ( Read more... )

politics

Comments 8

draycevixen October 21 2014, 12:47:42 UTC

Talk about having made a difference in the world.

miwahni October 22 2014, 11:41:15 UTC

He certainly made a difference in my part of the world. Add to the above Land Rights for aboriginals, a move towards gender equality in work and pay (still not quite there) and the establishment of an Arts council, and more.

byslantedlight October 21 2014, 13:58:09 UTC

I don't remember much about Gough Whitlam except that he was succeeded by Malcolm Fraser and then Bob Hawke, both of whom I do remember - I guess it was my becoming-aware years! I did know he was controversial at the time (in that being-attacked way that is controversy in politics), but despite it all he did alot of good for Australia and people in general... good on him!

miwahni October 22 2014, 11:43:02 UTC

If by "controversial" you mean "the only prime minister / government to be sacked by the Governor General" then yes, that's the word *g*. They had a few missteps along the way, but on the whole dragged us kicking and screaming out of the shadows of Colonialism and into a proud nation in our own right.

trepkos October 21 2014, 16:45:24 UTC

Where have the 70s gone ... it's like we've regressed.

miwahni October 22 2014, 11:44:20 UTC

It's the old saying, isn't it - the more things change... some of the things his government introduced were rapidly repealed by the next conservative government but in other areas he made lasting change.
*sigh* I have so much family history tied up in the politics of that time, it still seems quite recent to me.

moonlightmead October 22 2014, 13:58:03 UTC

Three different deaths mentioned in my friends' pages on LJ yesterday, and all of them of people who made a difference to my friends. Thank you for this. I don't think I really knew about any of what you describe - I knew, if I thought about it, that you (er, the country, not you yourself...) were in Vietnam, and I knew about the white Australia policy, but that's it. Had no idea about the divorce laws or the health care system, or university funding and although I have heard about the land rights, I certainly had no idea who was involved in bringing that about.

Wow, he made a difference!

miwahni October 23 2014, 11:12:21 UTC

I'm sorry your flist was such a gloomy place yesterday.
Gough Whitlam certainly left a lasting legacy that few other politicians can match.