RIP to Gough Whitlam, who died this morning aged 98:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/gough-whitlam-dead/5828840
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-21/gough-whitlam-dead/5828840
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He empowered people of the western suburbs not only in Sydney but Melbourne and Brisbane. Up until the mid 70s people were still using an outside toilet that required the 'can' been removed and emptied.I'm watching something about him on ABC now and he sounds like he slayed. RIP.
My boss was telling me today that her brother was conscripted through the whole 'birthday draft'. Fortunately for him, Gough came to power and he ended it. Maybe saved her brother's life.A great, great man.
It is difficult to put into words how inspirational he was and is.
And the partnership with his wife was so beautiful and inspiring too.
It is one of my earliest political memories, that It's Time, and how excited everyone was.
And he won office on my birthday - and it was like the dark ages melted away, and we stepped into the modern world.
I had older brothers, as a kid conscription was scary.
Gough Whitlam, was my first young venture into learning about politics, what a way in.
He empowered people of the western suburbs not only in Sydney but Melbourne and Brisbane. Up until the mid 70s people were still using an outside toilet that required the 'can' been removed and emptied.
@MADONNA
Pretty much every anti discrimination law in place now is based on a Whitlam initiative or policy of equality for all.
I believe they passed more bills in the first 100 days of office than most parties achieve in a full term.
I think it is a record of some sort and it was pretty much all reforms.
We have medicare due to Gough, we had free uni for a bit because of Gough and he changed unis forever from old boys clubs.
Family Law Gough, womens pay & rights, gough.....check it out, it is rather awesome reading about him.
Aboriginal rights, the beginning of land rights.....
The Labor party has over years introduced many of the reforms to the legal system, including setting up Legal Aid, and funding free community legal services
And Margaret was a whip too, I loved how she took Mrs Howard to task, for doing bugger all.
@MADONNA
Pretty much every anti discrimination law in place now is based on a Whitlam initiative or policy of equality for all.
I believe they passed more bills in the first 100 days of office than most parties achieve in a full term.
I think it is a record of some sort and it was pretty much all reforms.
We have medicare due to Gough, we had free uni for a bit because of Gough and he changed unis forever from old boys clubs.
Family Law Gough, womens pay & rights, gough.....check it out, it is rather awesome reading about him.
Aboriginal rights, the beginning of land rights.....
The Labor party has over years introduced many of the reforms to the legal system, including setting up Legal Aid, and funding free community legal services
And Margaret was a whip too, I loved how she took Mrs Howard to task, for doing bugger all.
I don't know how old you are @pecan but I was only a kid during his time in office. I feel sad and more so after hearing people speaking highly of him on the radio on the drive home from work particularly Malcolm Turnbull's generous and genuine tribute. I'll be honest, tears have flowed but more for where we have ended up as a country now which is far removed from the one of compassion set by his legacy.
He setup the reforms in Family Law which was to (No Fault) proceedings. The Family Law Act clth was passed in '75 and brought divorce out of the dark ages. As far as Tertiary Education, my life would be very different if not for Gough and "Its Time"