Former Australian Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam died yesterday. http://ift.tt/1DAjn5F
He is most famously remembered as the only prime minister in Australian history to be sacked by the Governor General (Sir John Kerr) in 1975.
He was Labor's last "true believer". History records that he brought about a long list of reforms to Australia - including free university education, recognition of Aboriginal land rights and nationalized health care amongst others. However, being years ahead of public opinion, his pace of reforms, inability to handle the economy of his time and his inability to contain the excesses of his ministers caused great fear amongst the voting public. Subsequent to his sacking, he had to take responsibility for Labor's worst electoral defeat in history.
In spite of this defeat, his legacy was the end of the Menzies era of fiscal responsibility. It was also the end of Labor's socialist ideals. By the time that Bob Hawke finally wrested victory for Labor 8 years later, any pretence that Labor represented the ordinary worker had long gone.
Reckless spending funded by borrowing against the next generation has been a feature of Australian governments ever since.
He is most famously remembered as the only prime minister in Australian history to be sacked by the Governor General (Sir John Kerr) in 1975.
He was Labor's last "true believer". History records that he brought about a long list of reforms to Australia - including free university education, recognition of Aboriginal land rights and nationalized health care amongst others. However, being years ahead of public opinion, his pace of reforms, inability to handle the economy of his time and his inability to contain the excesses of his ministers caused great fear amongst the voting public. Subsequent to his sacking, he had to take responsibility for Labor's worst electoral defeat in history.
In spite of this defeat, his legacy was the end of the Menzies era of fiscal responsibility. It was also the end of Labor's socialist ideals. By the time that Bob Hawke finally wrested victory for Labor 8 years later, any pretence that Labor represented the ordinary worker had long gone.
Reckless spending funded by borrowing against the next generation has been a feature of Australian governments ever since.
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