Gough Whitlam and Lance Barnard governed as a duumvirate from December 5-19, 1972.
On December 19, the full Whitlam ministry was sworn in.
To mark the occasion, Whitlam addressed the nation on television on December 20, 1972. [Read more…]
Archives for December 1972
Prime Minister William McMahon Concedes Defeat
Dec 02, 1972
William McMahon was the first Liberal leader to concede defeat in a federal election since 1946.
In winning the 1972 election, Whitlam became the first Labor Prime Minister in 23 years.
- Listen to Prime Minister McMahon concede defeat on election night, December 2
The Party For The Times: The Australian’s Second Editorial Endorsing Whitlam
Dec 01, 1972
In a front page editorial, on December 1, 1972, The Australian newspaper, endorsed the election of Gough Whitlam and the ALP.
It was the second front-page editorial in a week that advocated a change of government.
Titled The party for the times, the paper said Whitlam offered a “coherent programme of action over a wide range of areas which the present Government has either neglected or only belatedly taken an interest”.
Comparing Whitlam with Liberal Prime Minister William McMahon, the paper said: “Certainly there must be an element of risk in voting the Labor Party into power after 23 years. But in view of his performance over the past 20 months, surely there would be more risk returning Mr McMahon. [Read more…]
