A total of thirty-two men served as ministers in the Whitlam Governments between December 5, 1972 and November 11, 1975.
Thirty of those men have died, including Whitlam, who died on October 21, 2014, aged 98.
With Bill Hayden’s death on October 21, 2023, nine years to the day since Whitlam’s death, former Senator Doug McClelland, 97, is now the last surviving member of the full Whitlam ministry that took office on December 19, 1972.
The other surviving minister is Paul Keating, who served for three weeks from October 21, 1975 until November 11, 1975.
The most recent deaths have been:
– Bill Hayden, October 21, 2023 – aged 90
– Moss Cass, February 26, 2022 – aged 95
– Joe Berinson, June 2, 2018 – aged 86.
– Doug Everingham, August 24, 2017 – aged 94.
– Rex Patterson, April 13, 2016 – aged 89.
The table shows the names, portfolios, birth dates and ages of all the surviving former ministers. They are listed from oldest to youngest.
| The Whitlam Ministries – Ministers Still Living | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name/Portfolios | Seat | Born | Current Age |
|
1.
|
Doug McClelland Minister for the Media (19.12.72 – 06.06.75) Special Minister of State (06.06.75 – 11.11.75) |
Senator, NSW (1962-87) |
05.08.1926
|
97
|
|
2.
|
Paul Keating Minister for Northern Australia (21.10.75 – 11.11.75) |
Blaxland, NSW (1969-96) |
18.01.1944
|
80
|
