Jun 25 2008
Gough Whitlam
I wasn’t around but sounds like 
the guy was a true Australian icon.
He led the labor party to victory in 1972 and was ousted in 1975. In fact he was the the first Prime Minister to be dismissed by the Governor General using reserve powers.
It was only a short time in office many of his socially revolutionary policies remain to this day, including Medicare. He also brought the minimum voting age down to 18 yrs, abolished the White Australia policy, funded systems to assist Aboriginals and New Australians, and introduced Legal Aid.
In ‘75 the Senate refused to pass the Whitlam government’s Supply bill. The then Governor General, John Kerr raised concerns about the legality of Whitlam’s proposals for borrowing money. On November 11 Kerr used his right to revoke Whitlam’s commission and self elected a temporary Prime Minister.
Whitlam heard of the proclamation which concluded with ‘God Save the Queen’. He then addressed the crowd gathering outside Parliament House. This was the speech with which Gough is most remembered; “Ladies and gentlemen, well may we say ‘God Save the Queen’, because nothing will save the Governor General.”
You just don’t get antics like that in Australian politics these days do you. Or do you?
Doesn’t compare to Bob Hawke; the only politician in the world in the Guinness book of records for drinking a yard glass of beer in under 6 seconds.
I wonder if that’s on youtube somewhere?