The Hon Gough Whitlam

Labor Leader - 8 February 1967 - 22 December 1977
Labor Prime Minister - 5 December 1972 - 11 November 1975

Biography

Gough Whitlam became Australia's 21st Prime Minister on 5 December 1972. His Labor government, the first after more than two decades, set out to change Australia through a wide-ranging reform program. Whitlam's term abruptly ended when his government was dismissed by the Governor-General on 11 November 1975.

The public lives of Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret extend over half a century. After serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, Whitlam joined the Australian Labor Party in 1945. He became the member for Werriwa in Sydney's south in 1952, retaining the seat in eleven more federal elections over the next 25 years.

Whitlam led the reform of the Labor Party platform in the long years in Opposition. As Prime Minister he immediately set about implementing the reform program. His government drew on international agreements to develop programs on human rights, the environment and conservation.

For further information, visit the Whitlam Institute