The Whitlam Legacy

The election of the Whitlam government in 1972 marked a turning point in 20th century Australia. Shaking off the vestiges of two decades of conservative rule, Gough Whitlam brought new ideas, new policies and new people to the task of governing. Bursting with energy and expectation, the Labor government led a reform revolution in many areas, from education and health to the environment and foreign policy. But alongside the great achievements were great failures and, ultimately, great tragedy when the government was dismissed. For the first time, Gough Whitlam, ministers, advisers, public servants, party and union insiders provide a unique account of this turbulent period in Australian politics. They reveal what worked and what didn't, and shed light on the personalities driving the engines of change. The candid views of insiders are balanced with analysis from journalists and academics. The book also includes new research and previously unpublished photos and archival documents. The Whitlam Legacy provides the definitive account of the government that changed Australia forever.

Foreword, Gough Whitlam Preface Introduction Prologue: The Whitlam Ascendancy, Troy Bramston Part One- The Whitlam Years and Political Style Gough Whitlam: In his Father's Shadow, Michael Kirby I was a Teenage Whitlamite, Bob Carr Whitlam, the 1960s and The Program, Frank Bongiorno The Art of the Matter, Graham Freudenberg Hearts and Minds: The Meaning of 'It's Time', Nick Cater Gough Whitlam: The Campaigner, Richard Farmer Victories, Defeats and Electoral Politics, Malcolm Mackerras Whitlam's Opposition, Gerard Henderson Part Two- Managing Government The Whitlam Government Through the Cabinet Papers, Troy Bramston Inside the Prime Minister's Office, Evan Williams A View from the BackbenchRalph Willis The Public Service, J R Nethercote Whitlam and the Media, Eric Walsh Scandals, Rodney Tiffen Part Three- Policy and the Whitlam Government Economic Policy, John O'Mahony Health Policy, John Deeble Education Policy, Michael Hogan Social Policy, Brian Howe Women of Australia, Susan RyanEnvironment Policy, Jeff Angel Industrial Relations Policy, Michael Easson Primary Industry Policy, John Kerin Immigration and Multiculturalism, Mary Kalantzis and Bill Cope Aboriginal Affairs, Frank Brennan It's Time, the Arts and Cultural Policy, Patricia Amphlett Foreign and Defence Policy, Gordon Bilney Law Reform and the Constitution, George Williams Part Four- The Dismissal The Dismissal, Michael Sexton Sir John Did His Duty, Peter van Onselen Media, Politics and The Dismissal, Leigh Hatcher The Untold Story of The Dismissal,Troy Bramston and Paul Kelly Part Five- Reflections and Assessments A Personal Perspective, Kep Enderby Politics, Policy and Labor in Retrospect, Moss Cass with Vivien Encel Papua New Guinea: A Quiet Achievement, Bill Morrison Gough Whitlam and Labor Tradition, Carol Johnson A View from the Press Gallery,Geoff Kitney Gough Whitlam: The Political Singularity, Barry Jones The Whitlam Legacy, Paul Kelly Epilogue: Whitlam's True Believers, Troy Bramston.

Troy Bramston is a columnist with The Australian newspaper and a contributor to Sky News. He has worked as a policy and political adviser in government, opposition and the private sector. He is a former principal speechwriter for Kevin Rudd and an adviser to the Rudd government. Troy is the author of Looking for the Light on the Hill: Modern Labor's Challenges (Scribe, 2011). Widely praised, The Courier-Mail said, ‘Troy Bramston’s book is a stand-out. His elegant prose and bold criticisms make it hard to put down’. He is co-editor of The Hawke Government: A Critical Retrospective (Pluto Press, 2003), editor of The Wran Era (The Federation Press, 2006) and editor of For the True Believers: Great Labor Speeches That Shaped History (The Federation Press, 2012) which was described by The Australian as ‘a compulsory reference for anyone interested in Australian politics’. Troy lives in Sydney with his partner, Nicky, and two children, Madison and Angus. He is currently writing a book about Paul Keating.