'When he became Prime Minister in December 1972 Gough Whitlam was the first Labor Prime Minister for 23 years. Within days he had abolished conscription, withdrawn the remaining Australian troops from Viet Nam, negotiated diplomatic relations with China and initiated Federal aid to State and church schools and land rights for Aborigines. In this new book, completed after his 80th birthday, he covers his activities after parliament. He reviews Governor-General Kerr's coup and robustly rebuts Chief Justice Barwick's doctrines. He examines the repercussions of the US withdrawal from Viet Nam and the Portuguese withdrawal from Timor in 1975 and the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 19902s. He discussed the decline of the Hawke Government, the rise and fall of Paul Keating and the resuscitation of John Howard. He propounds the case for a federal Republic and more representative Parliaments by the beginning of the next century.' (Publisher's blurb)
'In December 1972, Gough Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power after twenty-three years of unbroken conservative rule. On November 11, 1975, the Governor-General of Australia, Sir John Kerr, dismissed him. Within the Westminster system, this was the first time since 1783 that the Crown or its representative had dismissed a government which had not broken the law and which commanded a majority in the lower house of the parliament.' (Introduction)
'In December 1972, Gough Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power after twenty-three years of unbroken conservative rule. On November 11, 1975, the Governor-General of Australia, Sir John Kerr, dismissed him. Within the Westminster system, this was the first time since 1783 that the Crown or its representative had dismissed a government which had not broken the law and which commanded a majority in the lower house of the parliament.' (Introduction)
