Gough Whitlam dies aged 98; former PM remembered as 'giant' of Australian politics

Updated October 22, 2014 01:15:33

Former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam has been remembered as a visionary and a giant of federal politics by figures across the political spectrum.

Mr Whitlam led the country through a period of massive social change from 1972 to 1975 before his ousting by governor-general Sir John Kerr, in the infamous dismissal episode.

Despite being in power for only three turbulent years, Mr Whitlam launched sweeping reforms of the nation's economic and cultural affairs, cementing his place as one of Australia's most revered leaders.

He stopped conscription, introduced free university education, recognised communist China, pulled troops from Vietnam, abolished the death penalty for federal crimes and reduced the voting age to 18.

"Our father, Gough Whitlam, has died this morning at the age of 98," Mr Whitlam's family said in a statement on Tuesday.

"A loving and generous father, he was a source of inspiration to us and our families and for millions of Australians.

"There will be a private cremation and a public memorial service."

Condolences have flowed in for the former Labor leader, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying he inspired a legion of young people to become involved in public life.

Video: An extraordinary life: Gough Whitlam remembered (ABC News)

"Gough Whitlam was a giant of his time. He united the Australian Labor Party, won two elections and seemed, in so many ways, larger than life," Mr Abbott said.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten said Mr Whitlam redefined Australia, and in doing so helped improve the lives of many people.

"Today, the party that I lead - the Labor Party - has lost a giant. And I think it is fair to say, regardless of one's politics, the nation has lost a legend.

"He was sacked, unprecedented in Australian history. But of all leaders, therefore, none had arguably more cause to carry an anvil of hatred. But he did not.

"In defending tolerance and defending democracy, Mr Whitlam defined his character and his values and our nation's."

Following the news of Mr Whitlam's death, Federal Parliament was suspended for the day as a mark of respect.

MPs instead devoted the sitting day to paying tribute to the former prime minister.

Mr Whitlams close friend and veteran Labor MP John Faulkner said his role was to change the country.

Photo: Portrait of Gough Whitlam during his time as Werriwa MP, between 1957 and 1959. (Australian Information Service, National Library of Australia collection)

"To liberate the horizons and uplift the talents of the Australian people."

Former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke said today was a time to remember the "great life" of Mr Whitlam.

"This is not a time for sadness," he said at a press conference in Sydney.

"Gough was ready to go, and his family was ready for him to go. Rather, it's a remembrance of a great life.

"The simple truth is that Australia is a better country because of the life and work of Gough Whitlam."

Mr Hawke also remembered Mr Whitlam's "biting wit" and humour.

He said he learnt from Mr Whitlam the importance of building consensus within Labor and of thinking beyond Australia to the region, particularly to China, but that Mr Whitlam's "weakness" was a lack of interest in the economy.

Mr Hawke revealed that he warned Mr Whitlam that his government would "live or die on your economic performance".

He said he offered to arrange weekly "sessions" with a leading economist for Mr Whitlam but the offer was never taken up.

Gough Whitlam: Life in pictures

The life of Australia's 21st prime minister, Gough Whitlam, in pictures.

1. 

   Life in pictures

2. Video

   The great reformer

3. Video

   The dismissal

4. Video

   Gough's legacy

5. Video

   Energy and humour

6. Video

   The Blacktown speech

'He wasn't the sort of person who bore grudges'

Former Liberal prime minister, Malcolm Fraser, described Mr Whitlam as a formidable opponent and said they also shared many values.

"He wanted Australia to be an independent player on the world stage. He didn't want Australia to be a subject to any other nation," he said.

"His ambition for Australia was boundless. His enthusiasm was great and Australia is a much richer country for his life."

Video: Prime ministers past and present pay tribute to Gough Whitlam (ABC News)

Mr Fraser described him as a formidable opponent in political terms but somebody who was very close to his family and a person he believed was a good friend.

"He wasn't the sort of person who bore grudges. He didn't carry any bitterness into the future."

Former prime minister John Howard said Mr Whitlam's greatest achievement was his 1972 election victory.

"[Mr Whitlam] led the Labor Party back into Government, after the wasteland of 23 years of Opposition, characterised by a disastrous split and an over long dalliance with attitudes no longer relevant to a rapidly changing Australia," Mr Howard said.

"With flair, and notwithstanding considerable resistance, he reformed and modernised the Australian Labor Party.

"Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister when I entered Parliament in 1974.

"His ready wit, eloquence and prodigious recall gave him an easy mastery of the Parliamentary arena."

Former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard said Mr Whitlam's legacy would never be forgotten.

"He is alive in our universities and the many lives he changed by giving free access to university education, my life included in that count," she said.

"Alive in Medicare and the uniquely Australian health system we now take for granted. Alive in our suburbs and in our family law. Alive in our relationship with China and our multicultural society."

Former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd praised Mr Whitlam for his personal and political courage, leading to countless achievements that have since become legacy.

"And despite the many efforts of others over the decades to tarnish and reduce these legacies, they failed to do so because these profound reforms had become sown deep in the hearts and minds of the Australian people," he said.

"Therese and I are profoundly saddened by Gough's death. We were honoured to have counted both Gough and, his partner for life, Margaret, as our friends."

ABC chairman James Spigelman, a former Whitlam staffer, accompanied Mr Whitlam on his first visit to China as prime minister.

He said it was an honour to work with Mr Whitlam.

"The fact that we were there at that time, that we travelled at that time and that Deng Xiaoping was our host, still resonates today with a great impact," he said.

"It's many, many years later but it's still important in terms of our relations with China."

Mr Whitlam leaves a legacy of unprecedented and unmatched change in Australian politics.

Arguably, he was as much lauded for his reformist leadership and eloquence as he was lambasted for his autocratic style and profligacy.

But it is for being at the centre of Australia's most ferocious political storm, the "Dismissal", that Mr Whitlam will forever be remembered.

Mr Whitlam remained one of Australia's most towering figures despite being the country's only prime minister to be sacked, a touchstone moment in the nation's political history.

He led Labor to its first victory in 23 years at the December 1972 election on the back of the famous "It's Time" campaign before being sensationally sacked by Sir John Kerr on November 11, 1975.

His dismissal was prompted by a refusal by parliament's Upper House, where his Labor Party did not hold a majority, to pass a budget bill until the government agreed to call a general election.

To end the impasse, Sir John took the unprecedented step of sacking Mr Whitlam and installing then opposition leader Malcolm Fraser as caretaker prime minister.

For the first, and so far only time in Australian history, the head of state used his constitutional powers to dismiss the government of the day.

Mr Fraser was appointed caretaker PM while the country reeled from the episode.

Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating said the dismissal drained the good will from federal politics, creating a schism that still exists today.

"Not only did Malcolm Fraser's opposition try and bring down the government in 1975, Bill Snedden tried to do it in 1974," he said.

"So after 23 years in office, the Liberals didn't have the presence of mind to give Labor two years so that drains the good will from the system."

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, alp, political-parties, australia

First posted October 21, 2014 08:11:43