EndemicEarthlingNov 10
Ffity years later.
We still remember.
#GoughWhitlam
Show threadEndemicEarthling

Gough #Whitlam, Australian PM 1972–75:
• free universal healthcare
• end of White Australia policy
• Racial Discrimination Act
• abolished university fees
• removed tax on contraception
• no-fault divorce
• equal pay for women
• extended maternity leave and support for single mothers
• abolition of conscription
• abolition of death penalty
• Aboriginal #LandRights and the start of #LandBack
• established Legal Aid and Aboriginal legal services
• doubled arts funding: established SBS, National Gallery, Australia Council for the Arts, National Film and Television School
• withdrew ADF from #Vietnam
• withdrew support for apartheid #SouthAfrica
• first Western leader to visit #China after WWII; re-established diplomatic relations
• independence for #PNG
• democratising the electoral system through One-Vote-One-Value
• first federal legislation on human rights, environment and heritage
• cut #tariffs
• Trade Practices Commission
• Law Reform Commission
• National Parks & Wildlife Service
• Australia Film Commission
• Australia Council
• Consumer Affairs Commission
• Technical and Further Education Commission #TAFE
• abolished appeals to the (UK) Privy Council
• accelerated rollout of sewerage system to disadvantaged communities
• sought to close #PineGap

All this in under three years. #Auspol

Nov 10 at 11:33pmWeb
Show threadEndemicEarthlingNov 11

Arguably, Whitlam was the most consequential Australian PM since WWII, whose government did more than any other federal administration to align Australia with international human rights law and to question the prevailing narrative of Australia as merely an extension of imperial powers (UK-->US) in the South Pacific.

Today (11/11/25) is the 50th anniversary of the empire(s) striking back, when Governor General John Kerr activated the monarch's reserve powers (the only time this has even been done in a Commonwealth nation) and unilaterally dismissed Whitlam as PM, perhaps the most contentious event in Australian political history.

#TheDismissal #Auspol

Show threadDevorppaNov 11

@EndemicEarthling

Excellent list, although you left off that Whitlam also established 2JJ - the youth radio network.

Show threadEndemicEarthlingNov 11
@Devorppa TBH, I hit the character limit...
Show threadDevorppaNov 11

@EndemicEarthling

I really hate when I hit the character limit - good work though :)

Show threadMojo ♻️Nov 11
@EndemicEarthling @Devorppa Besides that, what else did the “Roman” do for us?
The only prime minister completely independent of Murdoch — and, according to Murdoch’s papers, our “worst ever”. Go figure.
Show threadChookMother 🇦🇺🦘Nov 11
@EndemicEarthling It was an amazing time. #TheDismissal #OzHistory
Show threadKevin RussellNov 11

@EndemicEarthling

Its very exciting and humbling to see all the accomplishments listed.

This is the bar for a progressive government. It may be you have to decide getting reelected is secondary, and just get it done.

Hat tipped.