The Whitlam Program
Whitlam came to office claiming a mandate for a wide-ranging program
of social reforms. In a whirlwind of activity the government:
- ended conscription and withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam.
- implemented equal pay for women.
- launched an inquiry into education and funded government and
non-government schools on a needs basis.
- established a separate ministry responsible for aboriginal affairs
and supported the idea of land rights.
- recast our foreign policy by withdrawing support for South Africa,
recognising China, granting independence to Papua-New Guinea and
distancing Australia from USA foreign policy.
- abolished tertiary education fees and established the Tertiary
Education Assistance Scheme.
- increased pensions.
- established a universal system of health insurance known as Medibank.
- established controls on foreign ownership of Australian resources.
- passed the Family Law Act, establishing no-fault divorce.
- passed a series of laws banning racial and sexual discrimination.
- extended maternity leave and benefits for single mothers.
- sought to democratise the electoral system by introducing one-vote-one-value.
However, the government also faced difficulties, some of its own
making:
- government spending increased at a rapid rate, fuelling inflation.
- international factors such as the inflation caused by the trebling
of oil prices by the Middle East Organisation of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) created economic difficulties.
- a wages explosion was also fuelling inflation.
- unemployment increased, particularly after an across-the-board
25% cut in tariffs.
- varying performances by some ministers, such as Dr Cairns.
- attempts to borrow $4000m from overseas sources created enormous
political difficulties for the government in 1975. The Overseas
Loans Affair became the trigger for the Opposition to block the
1975 Budget in the Senate.
The unprecedented decision to try to force the government to an
election through blocking the 1975 Budget bills in the Senate,
and thereby cutting off the supply of money the government needs
to simply carry on, was justified by the Liberal leader, Malcolm
Fraser, on the grounds that the government was now so "reprehensible"
that drastic measures were required to get rid of it.
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