Whitlam Government
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The Honourable Gough Whitlam AC, QC |
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21st Prime Minister of Australia Elections: 1972, 1974 |
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In office 5 December 1972 – 11 November 1975 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General |
Paul Hasluck John Kerr |
| Deputy |
Lance Barnard (1972–1974) Jim Cairns (1974–1975) Frank Crean (1975) |
| Preceded by | William McMahon |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Fraser |
The Whitlam Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. It was made up of members of the Australian Labor Party. The government commenced when it defeated the McMahon Government in the 1972 federal election after a record 23 years of Coalition government. It concluded in historic circumstances, when it was dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr as a result of the 1975 constitutional crisis and was succeeded by the Fraser Government. The Whitlam Government remains the only federal government in Australian history to be dismissed by an either a monarch or viceregal representative.
The Whitlam Government, while highly controversial during its short tenure, is credited with the implementation of major reforms. Formal relations with China were established, the conscription laws were repealed, all remaining Australian forces were withdrawn from the Vietnam War, and tertiary education fees were abolished. The Whitlam Government was re-elected in the 1974 federal election. However, following the dismissal, the Labor Party was heavily defeated by the new Fraser Government in the 1975 elections.
The Australian Labor Party had entered opposition in 1949, following loss of the Chifley Government to Robert Menzies led Liberal-Country Party Coalition. The Coalition governed continuously for a further 23 years. Gough Whitlam had become deputy leader of the Labor Party in 1960 and replaced the retiring Arthur Calwell as leader in 1967 following Labor's poor result in the 1966 election. In April 1967, Whitlam was elected party leader, with Lance Barnard as Deputy Leader. Labor reduced the Gorton Government's majority and came within 4 seats of government in the 1969 election. Whitlam then led the Labor Party to victory against the McMahon Government at the 1972 election.
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Wikipedia