Yahoo Lifestyle Gough Whitlam Dies At 98, Leaves Legacy For Women
Gough Whitlam. Photo: Getty Images.
Gough Whitlam had a passion for his country. He was dedicated to improving the lives of Australians - and he left a lasting legacy for Australian women.
Whitlam, who passed away today aged 98, was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1972 to 1975. He was a leader who shaped opinion rather than one who reacted to opinion polls.
During a time of enormous social change - the early '70s - he had a singular and invigorating vision, and he made a huge contribution to women's rights.
Although the Equal Pay Act was introduced in 1969, it was Whitlam who pressed the issue further with the landmark 1972 National Wage and Equal Pay case. Not only did the case ensure a minimum wage for women for the first time, but it saw an overall 30 per cent rise in women's wages.
Whitlam also introduced maternity leave and paid maternity leave for female Commonwealth employees, the single mother's benefit and no-fault divorce. He was also the first in the world to appoint a women's advisor to the prime minister.
But while his achievements will be remembered, so, too, will his personality and character. My mother, who knew Whitlam, says that the thing she remembers most about him - besides the fact that he always had a smile on his face - was that if he was in a room full of people, he wouldn't be focusing on the most important people there, he'd be seeking out the people at the back of the room, the ordinary Australians.
RIP Gough Whitlam, 1916-2014.
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