November 11th 1975 was a hot day and I awaited my
father getting home from work so I could, somewhat gleefully, announce to him
that ‘Kerr sacked Whitlam’. After a couple of weeks of posturing and stalemate
the unelected Governor General had downed a few brandies and sacked the
popularly elected Prime Minister. Dad was gutted and a little fearful ‘this
could lead to a civil war’. I was not and continue to not be against the
dismissal, I felt a circuit breaker was needed and, if the Government would not
go to the electorate, this was seen as the ‘best’ option. Over the years I have
come to doubt the motivations of the GG and am suspicious of the mechanics
behind it. I sometimes think if not for the fact that the wrong man was given
the job of Governor General or if our country was enlightened enough not to
have a Governor General then things might have been quite different.
Gough gave us so much. Universal health care
(Medibank/Medicare) and suddenly anyone who was sick no longer had to juggle
their bills to afford lifesaving care, no longer died of cancer because they
simply didn’t have the money for surgery and ‘minor’ viruses spread far less
because you could go to a GP and get treatment relatively cheaply (in those
days you were out of pocket about $2). ‘Free’ university education meant that,
regardless of income, regardless of ‘class’, regardless of where you lived and
if you had the desire and ability you could go to University. GPs, lawyers,
psychiatrists and even politicians we have today are all thanks to their
privilege of free university education. The Family Law Act was introduced
giving ‘no blame’ divorce and many people stifled and subsumed in loveless
relationships could now get on with their lives. I have philosophical problems
with easy divorce (although truthfully I’d be happier if it was much harder to
get married) but no one should be entrapped in sadness by any law. Land rights
gave our first Australians hope. The Trade Practices Act brought shonky
businesses and misleading advertising to account. He even brought many of us in
from outdoor toilets with sewerage being introduced to many (most) places. We
threw away the British Imperial Honour system (memo Mr Abbott that was 40 years
ago!!!) and gained a new National Anthem but not quite a republic but FM radio
grew out of Whitlam legislation. And Legal Aid opened the doors for many more
to at least get a look in to our Legal mysteries and miseries. All this while
ending conscription, giving the vote to 18 year olds, being the first Western
leader to go to China and shaking hands with Mao and accelerating the
withdrawal of troops in Vietnam. And all this (plus more) in less than three years.
These were things that mattered and I don’t know why they
don’t matter as much anymore.
There were dumb, stupid, dangerous mistakes also. Borrowing
money from shady regimes, obscenely high inflation, a blowout in the public
service numbers and the married Treasurer having a ‘close’ relationship with
his PA were not the mark of a government that had a solid hold on the
reins. And ultimately it burnt out and had to go.
Gough and his government changed the way we saw politics and
parliament. His mantra was ‘equality of opportunity’; now why isn’t that
on our coat of arms, why isn’t that our abiding philosophy, our (God help me)
vision statement?
He was a great man, a one off; he had an incredible wit, god
he was funny, and a huge brain. I saw him in person twice and he was a huge
bloke who taught me what charisma is, I’ve only experienced that a handful of
times and it is rare but palpable when you experience it.
He was a good man and he did good things. This country is
all the better for his being Prime Minister. He wasn’t the best, he was too
human for that but he did what he could, it was probably his best and
what more can we ask of anyone, especially our leaders.
98 years is indeed a lifetime but it seems it was time for
him to go.
My sympathies to his family, his admirers, friends and
colleagues.
Thanks comrades
