Gough Whitlam: Messiah or Very Naughty Boy?

Messiah or Very Naughty Boy?

  • Messiah

    Votes: 40 72.7%

  • Very Naughty Boy

    Votes: 7 12.7%

  • What the?

    Votes: 8 14.5%
  • Total voters
    55

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  • I liked Gough!
    While in office, the Whitlam government implemented its huge program of reform. Among its many initiatives were:
    • 1972: end of conscription.
    • 1973: establishment of new Commonwealth agencies and functions, including departments of Aboriginal Affairs, Defence (amalgamation of Air, Army and Navy departments), Environment, Urban and Regional Development. Other innovations were Aboriginal Land Rights Commission; Adviser to the Government on Women’s Affairs; Institute of Criminology; Law Reform Commission; Schools Commission; Social Welfare Commission.
    • 1974: Aboriginal Land Fund Commission; Australian Legal Aid Office; National Employment and Training Scheme.
    • 1975: Australian Heritage Commission; Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service; Australian Postal Commission; Australian Telecommunications Commission; Commissioner for Community Relations; Family Law Act (under which divorce law was reformed and the Family Court established in 1976); Medibank Health Scheme.
 

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JackFlash said:
  • I liked Gough!
    While in office, the Whitlam government implemented its huge program of reform. Among its many initiatives were:
    • 1972: end of conscription.
    • 1973: establishment of new Commonwealth agencies and functions, including departments of Aboriginal Affairs, Defence (amalgamation of Air, Army and Navy departments), Environment, Urban and Regional Development. Other innovations were Aboriginal Land Rights Commission; Adviser to the Government on Women’s Affairs; Institute of Criminology; Law Reform Commission; Schools Commission; Social Welfare Commission.
    • 1974: Aboriginal Land Fund Commission; Australian Legal Aid Office; National Employment and Training Scheme.
    • 1975: Australian Heritage Commission; Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service; Australian Postal Commission; Australian Telecommunications Commission; Commissioner for Community Relations; Family Law Act (under which divorce law was reformed and the Family Court established in 1976); Medibank Health Scheme.
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Refusing to take in Vietnamese refugees because he worried they would vote for liberal once they could isn't great.
 
JackFlash said:
  • I liked Gough!
    While in office, the Whitlam government implemented its huge program of reform. Among its many initiatives were:
    • 1972: end of conscription.
    • 1973: establishment of new Commonwealth agencies and functions, including departments of Aboriginal Affairs, Defence (amalgamation of Air, Army and Navy departments), Environment, Urban and Regional Development. Other innovations were Aboriginal Land Rights Commission; Adviser to the Government on Women’s Affairs; Institute of Criminology; Law Reform Commission; Schools Commission; Social Welfare Commission.
    • 1974: Aboriginal Land Fund Commission; Australian Legal Aid Office; National Employment and Training Scheme.
    • 1975: Australian Heritage Commission; Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service; Australian Postal Commission; Australian Telecommunications Commission; Commissioner for Community Relations; Family Law Act (under which divorce law was reformed and the Family Court established in 1976); Medibank Health Scheme.
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Don't forget free university education introduced in 1974. I was the beneficiary of this policy in 1978.
 
LanceRomance said:
Refusing to take in Vietnamese refugees because he worried they would vote for liberal once they could isn't great.
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Most of what he achieved has been underestimated. The exodus of refugees from Vietnam played a role in Australia–Vietnam relations. While Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser (1975–1983) welcomed the new arrivals, Whitlam did not. Whitlam saw the refugees as anti-communist and likely anti-Labor. Their arrival in Australia was seen as likely to complicate the development of a relationship prioritising foreign policy and economic interests. During his tenure Whitlam’s government did not withdraw its recognition of the Republic of Vietnam when it recognised the DRV. Australia maintained official relations with both the Hanoi and Saigon governments for over two years, effectively having a ‘two Vietnams’ policy. Tensions emerged between former US president Richard Nixon’s administration and Whitlam’s government as Australia distanced itself from US policy. As of today Whitlam’s vision of Australia–Vietnam relations being anchored in mutual interests has been realised, even if he did not foresee the development of a large Vietnamese–Australian community.
 
JackFlash said:
Most of what he achieved has been underestimated. The exodus of refugees from Vietnam played a role in Australia–Vietnam relations. While Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser (1975–1983) welcomed the new arrivals, Whitlam did not. Whitlam saw the refugees as anti-communist and likely anti-Labor. Their arrival in Australia was seen as likely to complicate the development of a relationship prioritising foreign policy and economic interests. During his tenure Whitlam’s government did not withdraw its recognition of the Republic of Vietnam when it recognised the DRV. Australia maintained official relations with both the Hanoi and Saigon governments for over two years, effectively having a ‘two Vietnams’ policy. Tensions emerged between former US president Richard Nixon’s administration and Whitlam’s government as Australia distanced itself from US policy. As of today Whitlam’s vision of Australia–Vietnam relations being anchored in mutual interests has been realised, even if he did not foresee the development of a large Vietnamese–Australian community.
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He was interested in relationships with communist countries and didn't want to upset them. Regardless of what they had done.
 
LanceRomance said:
He was interested in relationships with communist countries and didn't want to upset them. Regardless of what they had done.
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We had no diplomatic relations with any communist country until Whitlam went to China in 1973 as PM. It wasn't his first trip there either, he went there as opposition leader in July 1971 when his visit came several months before the United States announced that President Richard Nixon would visit Beijing. (The Nixon visit took place in February 1972.) This was at a time when China had a troublesome relationship with Russia despite both governments being communist. Nixon and Whitlam were at loggerheads on a lot of issues.
 
Rotayjay said:
The Liberals hated Whitlam because he was too good. They couldn't beat him except by breaking Westminster conventions and blocking supply. Gough was a hero.
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Plus he was surrounded by crooks and was trying to make dodgy deals with crooks.

Gough had a lot of great ideas but many of them were thought bubbles which would never be sustainable.

Blocking supply is breaking Westminster conventions even though there are literally laws around it. I guess that is something.

The Greens do it literally all the time, BTW. But its probably okay for them?
 

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Gough Whitlam: Messiah or Very Naughty Boy?

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