The dismissal was the culmination of almost three years of political c. Gough whitlam academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Gough whitlam gough whitlam was a man who achieved many things during his time as prime minister, but was also the only prime minister to be sacked by the governor general in all of history. In 1975, after being dismissed as prime minister, he gave. Whitlam was dismissed as prime minister at 1pm on november 11. In late 1972, i rejoiced in the title of associate editor of the australian and the sunday telegraph, and labor supporters numbered rupert murdoch among the angels. This speech by gough whitlam on the steps of parliament house on 11 november 1975 is one. This resource is designed to introduce you to gough whitlam and his dismissal as part of the year 10 history topic people power and politics in the postwar period.
He was the only gold logie winning fictional character on australian television, with mcdonald collecting. Whitlam then studied law at the university of sydney. His labor party was elected after 23 years of government by the liberalcountry party. Norman gunston with gough whitlam at that moment picture. After delivering his famous speech on the steps of parliament house, whitlam held a press conference. Our father, gough whitlam, has died this morning at the age of 98, the statement read. With garry mcdonald, max rowley, abigail, candy raymond. He doesnt qualify whitlams speech about aboriginals on november. The australian and other murdoch newspapers campaigned for a whitlam victory. He ended conscription, established new commonwealth agencies like aboriginal.
This speech by gough whitlam on the steps of parliament house on 11 november 1975 is one of the most famous in australian history. But an examination of his words and deeds proves the opposite. Edward gough whitlam 19162014 find a grave memorial. The whitlam government was dismissed by governorgeneral kerr on 11 november 1975. The leader of the labor party from 1967 to 1977, whitlam led his party to power for the first time in 23 years at the 1972 election.
The australian labor party alp had been in opposition for 23 years, and whitlam, who had reformed the alps policies, was keen to bring a program of social reform to the people of australia. Whitlam institute gough whitlam prime ministerial collection. Gough whitlam addressed the crowd after he was sacked as prime minister. In those days, many of the leading labor personalities were irish catholics from. I have long been interested in the highly unorthodox dismissal of the gough whitlam government in australia in 1975. Edward gough whitlam s government was elected on december 2, 1972 and was the first labor administration in 23 years.
The best part of the dismissal, 40 years ago today, was a comedian was in the thick of it. The dismissal of the whitlam government on november 11, 1975 was the most dramatic political event in the history of australias federation. New insights into the dismissal of gough whitlam highlight the lingering complexities of any future effort to make australia a republic. How did norman gunston come to be at the dismissal of the whitlam government. An abc news summary of the events leading up to and including the 1975 dismissal of gough whitlams labor. I had begun writing for whitlam even before joining his staff. Gough whitlam was unceremoniously given the big a by the g.
Despite the torrent of constitutional and political literature on the rights and the wrongs of. Gough whitlam gradually lost control of the senate over 197275, ie he had less people in the senate that would vote for his laws and legislations for it to. I first came across this when studying a history of the cia in which i read about about a claim made in certain circles of the involvement of american intelligence in the deposition of the least proamerican australian government since the. In 1975, after being dismissed as prime minister, he gave a rousing speech that will live well beyond his 98 years. Gough whitlams government was a government of reform and his account shows the labor administrations concern for australia place in a more just world. Norman gunston happened to just be there to put his unique spin on the historic moment. Canberra at the time found out that the labor government led by gough whitlam had just been dismissed by the governorgeneral sir john kerr. In comments reported in a new book to mark the 40th anniversary of the remembrance day dismissal of gough whitlam, malcolm turnbull and tony abbott offer sharply differing views on the actions of governorgeneral john. His father, fred whitlam, was a federal public servant who served as commonwealth crown solicitor. On the occasion of bob hawkes 80th birthday gough wrote, bobs achievements over his 80 years have been legion. Norman gunston was primarily well known in his native australia, and to a lesser extent, the united states during the mid to late 1970s.
Famous dismissal speech these words made gough whitlam a legend. He led labor to power for the first time in 23 years at the 1972 election and went on to win the 1974 election before being. There was a narrative before gough whitlams death, and reinforced relentlessly in his passing, that, despite the economic chaos of his prime ministership, he fundamentally transformed australia for the better. Former australian prime minister gough whitlam delivers his iconic dismissal speech on the steps of parliament house in 1975. Mr whitlam resigned from parliament in july 1978 to become a visiting fellow and then the first national fellow at the australian national university. Gough whitlam was an australian labor party politician who became the 21st prime minister of australia from 1972 to 1975 and the leader of the labor party from 1967 to 1977.
The best part of the dismissal, 40 years ago today, was a comedian. He joined the party in 1945 as he joined the apl in sydney. Whitlams memory was demonised by conservatives to excuse. He came to power on december 2, 1972, in a wave of national enthusiasm for change after 23 years of what some have called the laissez faire era of prime minister sir robert menzies. He was elected prime minister at the 1972 elections and reelected at the 1974 elections.
Take your hr comms to the next level with prezi video. On the 40th anniversary of the governorgenerals dismissal of the whitlam government, we look at. Australias 21st prime minister and a titan of the australian labor party, edward gough whitlam, has died, aged 98. It is a fight which must never be taken for granted nor dismissed.
Gough whitlam was born in kew, a suburb of melbourne. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. Norman gunston was a satirical tv character performed by australian actor and comedian. Full text, video and audio of gough whitlams its time election policy speech for the december 1972 federal election. Norman gunston was a satirical tv character performed by australian actor and comedian garry mcdonald. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Huffpost australia looks at the events leading up to. The dismissal the musical revives the political crisis around gough whitlam s 1975 sacking. The whitlam institute is deeply saddened by the death of bob hawke, who was, in the words of gough whitlam in 2009, one of the labor partys and the labor movements greatest leaders. Gough whitlam as the labor prime minister of australia on 11 november, 1975 by the then governorgeneral of australia, sir john kerr and the subsequent installation, in parliament, of the liberal caretaker government and mr. The whitlam government 1972 1975 by whitlam gough abebooks.
A subversive parody of the established variety tonight show format, centering on a weekly roster of celebrity guests who were interviewed by norman gunston. Gough whitlam attends the memorial service for his wife, margaret whitlam in 2012. Hulton archivegetty images the towering, patrician gough whitlam, who has died aged 98, made his mark in a dynamic. Gough whitlam news, research and analysis the conversation. Whitlam seniors involvement in human rights issues was a powerful influence on his son. Whitlam dismissal 11 november 1975, abc tv youtube. On remembrance day, 1975, the governorgeneral of australia, sir john kerr, sacked the prime minister, gough whitlam.
Gough whitlam addresses reporters outside parliament in canberra after his dismissal by the governor general during the constitutional crisis of 1975. Norman gunston at whitlams dismissal abc news australian. The best part of the dismissal, 40 years ago today, was a. As well as outlining whitlams significance and contribution to australia, i will also recognise how he went wrong, and what he did that got him removed from parliament.
Gold logie winner, norman gunston, who covered the dismissal as a. He won the 1974 election before being controversially dismissed by the governorgeneral of. Norman gunston and gough share an historic moment in 1975. Gough whitlam is portrayed by progressives as having made australia a kinder, fairer place. Edward gough whitlam 11 july 1916 21 october 2014, known gough whitlam, was an australian politician. Elected in a national mood of hope and anticipation, the government was steeped in. That sweet democracy that isnt a world away, demographically speaking, from australia. Gough whitlams 1972 its time speech updated may 16, 2019 11. The dismissal of the whitlam government november 11th, 1975. Gough whitlam with singer little pattie, wearing tshirts announcing its time, for his labour election campaign in july 1972. The dismissal is our chosen eventissue study under topic b, people power. The information and activities in this resource will help you understand what happened, begin to. The dismissal of the gough whitlam government verisimilitude. The dismissal of labor legend gough whitlam as prime minister is etched into political history as one of our most controversial moments.
Also look up when gough whitlam is dismissed as pm and norman is there. Edward gough whitlam gough whitlam was the 26th prime minister, born in melbourne on the 11th of july 1916, the son of a solicitor who became a leading public servant. With max phipps, john stanton, bill hunter, john meillon. This is the original copy of perhaps the most important speech of gough whitlams political career his 1972 election policy speech. This speech laid out the guiding principles of the whitlam government and detailed the policy program it intended to enact. What it was like to have frontrow seats to the dismissal of gough whitlam as prime minister by ian walker for the eleventh updated february 25, 2020 12. Nick whitlam, son of gough whitlam speaks at the whitlam institute, university of western sydney in 2012. Whitlam, gough canberra grammar school laments the passing of one of its most prominent old boys, former prime minister gough whitlam. Edward gough whitlams government was elected on december 2, 1972 and was the first labor administration in 23 years.
He was now in a position to complete the internal party and policy reforms he had begun, and without which he believed the alp could not hope to. The commitment of the gough whitlam government was based on social justice and. Edward gough whitlam joined the school in 1932, for what he claimed were disciplinary reasons and was dux. In between writing prolabor editorials, i joined freudenberg. Gough whitlams gurindji land ceremony speech, august 16, 1975. Gough whitlam policies social justice and equality is the meaning of all humans in society have the same and equal rights regardless of their gender, race or religion etc. Gough whitlam, australias great reforming prime minister has died, aged 98. Gough whitlam was elected leader of the australian labor party on 8 february 1967. Australian information servicenational library of australia. Gough whitlam giving the its time speech which started massive social change in australia and made us a far more successful and inclusive country today. Gough whitlams iconic dismissal speech in 1975 mail online. Mr whitlam leaves a legacy of unprecedented and unmatched change in.
What it was like to have frontrow seats to the dismissal. Court fight to release secret palace letters about gough whitlam dismissal historian jenny hocking wants made public letters written between buckingham palace and. And, it was there that gough whitlam became the first labor prime minister for 23 years. A new book reveals the drama and comedy of prime minister gough whitlams famous hand back of gurindji land in 1975, following the wave hill walkoff 50 years ago and the bittersweet aftermath. Jay jamesmoody conceived of the project, had blake erickson join him as a cowriter, with laura murphy. Gough whitlam as leader of the australian labor party, circa 1970.