The Whitlam government stands out as the most significant reforming Labor government in Australian history. The introduction of free tertiary education, Medicare and increased age pensions. An end to conscription. The formal burial of White Australia and the first moves towards multiculturalism. The drafting of land rights legislation in the Northern Territory. The introduction of no-fault divorce and sole parent pensions. Marked improvements in conditions for public servants as well as a big increase in their number. All of these are Australian reform milestones. This historic memory of the Whitlam government is precisely what the political right loathe. For 40 years they have lambasted the Whitlam government – its alleged “chaos”, “economic incompetence” and “corruption” – in an attempt to discredit the notion that any government might introduce measures to benefit the working class and oppressed. How they must have squirmed when callers inundated talkback radio on the day his death was announced to recall fondly the Whitlam reforms. When Whitlam is buried, the right wing will be wishing that every last memory of his government will also be interred. And while the Labor frontbenchers will be sobbing, they too will be hoping that no one suggest they take up the torch of reform.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:06:25 +0000