He was the best PM Australia ever had I have heard.

My father loved him but never spoke of him much to me- does anyone know about this legendary person?

Remember him very well.

My late wife's father was part of the Whitlam government.

He was a regular visitor to her house when she was a child.

Great, great man.

We have Medicare (which started out as Medibank, under Whitlam) thanks to Gough.

A great speaker, articulate and quick-witted, who
could deliver the goods.   Unfortunately, I think, he
tried to introduce too many fresh notions, too quickly,
to a citizenry steeped in the ultra-conservative 1950's
Liberal quagmire.

And Kerr's reprehensible suck-holing to the queen
of another country was beyond the pale.  And this,
now all these years later, is why we need to become
a republic, give the current Governor General the
flick, and constitutionally remove any references citing
king Charles III as our purported "head of state".

Remember too that the CIA offered the opposition
Liberal and National party unlimited funding to help
them defeat Whitlam's Labor Party in the 1974 elections.

Sadly Gough was a man almost ahead of his time
and his ideas.  If he and his government had survived
Kerr's indefensible actions at the time, there's every
chance Australia would be a better place today—and
also probably an independent republic, presided over
by an executive Federal council.

Achieved more in three years than other PMs did in a dozen. Probably the best of my lifetime.

He was the first leader killed by news ltd.

His free education - educated 2 generations and built our economy.

Ironically he had educated for free the very people who have taken free education away from today's students.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 10^th, 2024 at 8:28pm:

Yeah, he gifted free education to the children of the upper class.

I have heard that Brian and so many positive replies tells me he impressed many here..

Frank wrote on Jan 10^th, 2024 at 10:01pm:


Fank always says the opposite to what happened. For the first time all Australians had access to education.

Gnads wrote on Jan 11^th, 2024 at 8:16pm:


Through the late 60's early 70's normal working families mostly could not send their children to UNI, it was reserved for the wealthy. It was very rare for working class children. After Whitlam it became fairly common.

From the Eulogy to Gough Whitlam.

"And 38 years later we are like John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin's Jewish insurgents ranting against the despotic rule of Rome, defiantly demanding "and what did the Romans ever do for us anyway?"

Apart from Medibank
and the Trade Practices Act,
cutting tariff protections
and no-fault divorce in the Family Law Act,
the Australia Council,
the Federal Court,
the Order of Australia,
federal legal aid,
the Racial Discrimination Act,
needs-based schools funding,
the recognition of China,
the abolition of conscription,
the law reform commission,
student financial assistance,
the Heritage Commission,
nondiscriminatory immigration rules,
community health clinics,
Aboriginal land rights,
paid maternity leave for public servants,
lowering the minimum voting age to 18 years
and fair electoral boundaries
and Senate representation for the territories

Apart from all of this, what did this old Roman ever do for us?"

AusGeoff wrote on Jan 11^th, 2024 at 8:07pm:


The highlighted bits are lies. The rest is very far from 'ultra'. 

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jan 11^th, 2024 at 10:23pm:



HOUSTON, TX — Greg Harrington, 32, decided it was finally time to take control of his adult life and learn some new information, sources confirmed Monday. "Maybe I'll figure out how to buy Bitcoin, or learn what Bitcoin even is," he muttered to himself while getting ready for his part-time evening job serving at Chili's. "It's a new year - time to gain some new skills and really better myself."

Sadly, Harrington's attempt was immediately thwarted as he discovered his brain's storage capacity was filled to its limit with quotes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Every time Harrington attempted to learn a new fact that would actually help him in life, his brain immediately rejected it, instead retaining useless quotes like "Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?" and "Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!" Despite hours and hours of intense study in self-help books and YouTube explainer videos, Harrington could retain not a single fact that would help him in his adult life, though he could still quote the Black Knight scene word-for-word.

"Oh well," he said sadly. "So be it. Come, Patsy!" He then rode off on an imaginary horse, with his friend Christopher banging two coconuts together behind him.

Experts say Harrington isn't alone in his plight, with millions of millennials only being able to quote Monty Python sketches, useless Star Wars Expanded Universe facts, or obscure bits of Lord of the Rings trivia rather than retain any useful information whatsoever. "It's a real problem faced by increasing numbers of young adults," said one leading researcher in Monty Python studies. "You might say it's only now we see the violence inherent in the system."

At publishing time, Harrington's girlfriend had asked him if he could explain cryptocurrency to her, but he could sadly only reply, "Ni! Ni!"

Frank wrote on Jan 12^th, 2024 at 9:00am:


Nope.  Facts.

As far as I am concerned, Whitlam only features in the "May God save the Queen, because nothing will save the Governor General" and those Leggos television commercials. Other than that, I have not heard shhtuff from him. I did not even remember his death notice.

“. . .nothing will save the Governor General. . .”

The contrast between Gough and SA Premier at the time Don Dunstan was comic, Gough being such a big man and Don small beside him.

During Rudd’s Apology speech Gough stood next to Malcolm Fraser, one hand on Malcolm’s shoulder for support.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jan 12^th, 2024 at 12:47pm:


.. and as Hunter S Thompson said in "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" - as we rose out of California you could almost see the high water mark where the tides of change rose.... only to fall back in disarray....

Well, the “Prime Minister” was Gough himself!

I was young...once.  My family was very much a political family.  My father was a long standing member of the ALP, he was once offered a seat for the DLP but turned it down, not being a conservative Catholic, he even met with Cardinal Mannix.  He knew most of the senior members of the ALP in South Australia, including Don Dunstan.  I remember going to Don's restaurant for my mother's sixtieth birthday and him greeting Don as an old comrade.  My sister was given for her 21st a copy of Don's cookbook and she has prized it ever since. 

Gough was a complete breath of fresh air politically. He saw out the tired old Tory government of Billy McMahon,  He ended conscription, he introduced Medibank, he brought in "no fault divorce", he introduced Indigenous Land Rights and Legal Aide, he introduced free University education, amongst other things.  He ended 23 years of Tory Rule.

Bobby. wrote on Jan 13^th, 2024 at 9:36pm:


No not really - News LTD whipped his arse in that election.

Whitlam had 3 elections in 3 years. News Ltd destabilized his government from day one. Much like it was with Julia Gillard.

Frank wrote on Jan 13^th, 2024 at 11:17pm:



DNA is a 'dyed in the wool' Labor man.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 13^th, 2024 at 9:39pm:


Gough Whitlam was Australia's version of Donald Trump.
Known for being an alleged paedophile, rapist, Dictator and insurrectionist. Little wonder that News Limited/CIA had him removed.
"God saved the Governor-General. Nothing saved the Gough cough."

Jaye has the brains of a butterfly.

I have been eating peanuts all morning-- very vegan I  think!!!

Been busy with my orchard Agnes. We planted five trees yesterday.One was the wrong tree {Oops!} so I will shift that in the cool of the evening.

24°C forecast max, 21°C tomorrow. Taking Socks to the beach tomorrow—she loves it.

a planting plan sounds really good. hopefully you will have a very healthy bunch of trees coming along soon!!

Gnads wrote on Jan 14^th, 2024 at 9:01am:


If only there was a shred of truth to give credence to your attempt at a joke.

Jasin wrote on Jan 14^th, 2024 at 10:25am:


No he was the exact opposite of Trump.

He must be like Trump.
Gough is considered the biggest BUFFOON in Australian Political history besides Harold Holt (another loser!).
Gough was known to frequent the Newtown 'wall' in his Govt Car looking for boy candy.

Jasin wrote on Jan 15^th, 2024 at 1:45am:



He was a homo?    

If you don’t want people to call you idiot, Booby, then don’t act like an idiot.

you do realise that I am the mod here Bob? You really are acting up?

Jasin wrote on Jan 15^th, 2024 at 1:45am:

OK, maybe not just like Trump... But he was a lot like Trump.

Whitlam was 6 foot 4... Trump is 6 foot 2.

Both were uber populists.

Both had a massive personal presence (although most leading politicians do).

Both were gifted with truckloads of natural charisma.

Both promised radical social change.

Both had an imperious style of governing... preferring to rule by decree.

Both initiated a radical and idiosyncratic political agenda.

Both triggered constitutional crises towards the end of their tenures.

Both left office under a cloud.

Both radically changed the way their respective nations think of themselves - as Keating said of Whitlam, 'There was an Australia before Whitlam and a different Australia after' - the same could be said of Trump.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jan 15^th, 2024 at 10:26am:

And, of course, both Whitlam and Trump left office having split their respective nations in half.

In Whitlam's case, his legacy has been rehabilitated... Trump's legacy will probably remain contentious and bitter, as Nixon's has.

Gough was tough
until he hit the rough.
Uncle Sam and John were quite enough.

Agnes.. wrote on Jan 15^th, 2024 at 8:19am:


Ban Monk for a day as well.

It's not "Mr Whitlams" topic

It's your topic about Whitlam.

He was also a contributor to West Papua & it Melanesian people being put under the Colonial boot of Indonesia in 1965.

They've been shooting West Papuans ever since.

Good one Gough. 

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jan 15^th, 2024 at 10:26am:


Both weren't rapists who stole money from kids' cancer charities though.

Only Trump is a rapist who stole money from kids' cancer charities.

Jasin wrote on Jan 16^th, 2024 at 5:08pm:
Newtown 'Wall' for his 'boys'. [/quote]

Quote:


No such thing.

Normally expect 100% garbage but this time you managed 200 % GARBAGE.

Jasin wrote on Jan 16^th, 2024 at 5:08pm:

You may be thinking of some judges...