People Power and Post War PoliticsPrime Ministers – Gough WhitlamPart 2: Policies

By

S. Angelo

East Hills Girls Technology High School

2008

Labor Policy Focus

Equal opportunityAustralian control of natural resourcesPromotion of Australian identitySocial Justice

ACTIVITIES

Draw up and Complete the following table for policies addressing equality Australian

IdentitySocial justice

self determination policyRoyal Commission on Aboriginal Land Rights in

Federal Territories (1973)return of land to Gurindji people (1975)Funding for Aboriginal Affairs increased from

$23m under Liberal to $141mEstablishment of Federal Ministry for Aboriginal

AffairsEstablishment of National Aboriginal

Consultative CommitteeRepealed Section 64 of Migration Acts 1958 –

1966 meaning Aboriginal people did not have to gain government permission to leave Australia

Changing Rights and Freedoms

Federal policy moved from integration to multiculturalism

Al Grassby, Minister for Immigration 1972 – 1974; Commissioner for Community Relations (1975)

Abolition of White Australia PolicyEnd of preferential treatment for northern

European and North American tourists and immigrants

Reform of Citizenship Act Encouragement of migrants

Community radio programsMultilingual welfare officersMultilingual emergency telephone callsTeacher exchange program with Italy

Racial Discrimination Act 1975

Multiculturalism

Promotion of equal opportunityElizabeth Reid appointed as Women’s Adviser

to the PMCreation of Office of Women’s AffairsConciliation and Arbitration Commission given

power to create an adult wage to replace separate male and female rates (1974)

Single mother’s allowanceRemoval of sales tax on contraceptive pillHome tutoring English programs for migrant

womenFamily Law Act 1975 – no fault divorce

removed social stigma from women who sought a divorce and removed ‘guilty’ label when dealing with custody and property disputes

Women

Abolition of Conscription for national serviceuniversity fees

Establishment of Australian Legal Aid Officenational health scheme – MedibankTrade Practices CommissionLaw Reform Commission

Creation ofAustralian passportsAustralian Film CommissionAustralian National Parks and Wildlife ServiceNational Film and Television Schoo

lProgram of providing sewerage to all urban area replacing septic tanks and pan systems

Decentralisation – Albury –WodongaCommenced construction of Australian National GalleryRelease of draft dodgers from prisonBanning racially selected sporting teams from South Africa

Other Reforms

Asian RelationsRecognition of China

Initiatives to improve relationship with China and other Communist nations:

East Germany, Nth Vietnam, Nth Koreavisit to PRC as opposition leader 1971Formal recognition to China’s government in 1972State visit to China in 1973Supported China’s membership in UNAppointed Dr Stephen Fitzgerald as ambassador to ChinaAustralia’s embassy in Bejing reopenedChina’s embassy in Canberra opened

Improved trade relationsCultural exchange programstourism

Whitlam’s Visit to the Philippines

http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/whitlam-visit-philippines/clip1/

Australia’s growing relationship with nations in South-East Asiathe PhilippinesPrior to the election of the Whitlam Labor government in 1972, Australia’s foreign policy was closely aligned firstly with that of Britain, and after the Second World War with that of the USA.Whitlam sought to maintain a close relationship with the USA, he pursued an independent foreign policy that emphasised regional engagement. Whitlam believed that Australia’s foreign policy should address the nation’s interests rather than be tied to the global objectives of the USA. The focus on the Asia–Pacific region was prompted by Australia’s location in the region and a desire to strengthen relationships with neighbouring countries in the interests of national security and trade.

Papua New Guinea

Control of British New Guinea since 1906trustee of German New Guinea since post WWII as part of UN agreementPaternalism and exploitationSelf government granted in 1973Independence granted in 1975

HUMAN RIGHTS

International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsInvolvement in WHOInvolvement in ILOInvolvement in UNESCORacial Discrimination Act 19751965 Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Foreign Policy Changes

Australian UN representatives favoured self-determination for Angola, Mozambique, Rodesia (Zimbabwe)Support for Asia forum; decreased emphasis on SEATOOpposition to French nuclear testing in the PacificForced France at the International Court of Justice to stop atmospheric nuclear testingReplace God Save the Queen with Advance Australia FairOrder of Australia to replace Imperial honoursAbolition of legal appeals to British Privy Council

only Prime Minister to grow up in the national capital

dubbed ‘the young brolga’ when he entered parliament, for his height (194cm) and imperious bearing

one of only two Prime Ministers whose lifetime spanned the lives of all 25 Prime Ministers in Australia’s first century (John Gorton was the other)

was on active service in World War II as a RAAF navigator, despite suffering badly from airsickness

only Prime Minister dismissed from office the Whitlam Institute was developed within

the University of Western Sydney in 2000

GOUGH TRIVIA