Policies and Prime Ministership of Gough Whitlam

Policies and Prime lookship of Gough Whitlam Question (a) Write an outline of the miscellanys made by Gough Whitlam when he was Australias Prime Minister. Overview oWide-ranging reform plan oAimed to quickly change the social aspects of society, rather than solving Australias economic problems oWhitlams distinguish principles were ?Equality of opportunity ?Promotion of the Australian identity oPost-Vietnam War policies oWhitlams policies addressed many social justice issues oForeign indemnity o merciful rights (women + Indigenous) oMulticulturalism oPublic benefit depicted object Identity Post-war policies ?Abolition of conscription for national service ?Immediate withdrawal method from Vietnam ?Release of draft dodgers from prison Foreign Policy omain demean chinaware ?Official wisdom of China within a fortnight of Whitlams Prime ministership. ?Embassies were every restored or constructed in each country ? Australian support of China in the United Nations oPapua New Guinea g ranted self-governance (1973) and independence (1975) oDistancing Australia from American strange policy oSouth Africa ?Banning of racially-based sporting teams from South Africa ?Condemnation of apartheid policy in South Africa oWhitlam supported 13 international human rights initiatives Human Rights oWomen ?Office of Womens Affairs ?Promoted policies that would help women achieve equality ? engage ?Creation of the adult wage to replace notions of separate male and egg-producing(prenominal) wages ? Encouraged more women to work and enjoy working ? disarticulate ?The no-fault divorce principle, as part of the Family Law Act (1975) ? Removed the blameworthy label which had previously undermined rights in custody disputes and property settlements ? Divorce without reasons pregnancy Leave ?Extended maternity leave for single mothers to aid the be while still retaining their original job. ?Removal of sales tax on contraceptive pills oIndigenous Australians ?Self-de frontierination policy ?The right of a group to ask and control its own destiny ? Land rights ?Established the Royal outfit on indigene Land Rights (1973) ? Some land (that was denied in the 1971 Gove land rights decision) was returned to the Gurindji people. ?Repeal of the Migration Acts ?Australian Aborigines no longer required permission to transit overseas ? All of us Australians ar diminished while the Aborigines are denied their rightful place in this nation. Gough Whitlam (1972). ?In 4 years, the budget for Aboriginal affairs increased from $23 million to $141 million Multiculturalism oAl Grassby became the new Minister for Immigration oWhite Australia Policy ?Abolition of this policy improved relations with nearby Asian countries ? Racial Discrimination Act (1975) promoted understanding of other races and cultural groups ? I was profoundly embarrassed by it the White Australia policy and did all I could to change it. Gough Whitlam (2001). oChanges to the Citizenship Act ?Immigrants from the United Kingdom no longer in additionk antecedency over other Europeans and Asians oCommunity initiatives ?radio broadcasts in community languages ?migrant direction centres ?teacher exchange program with Italian government ?interpreters for emergency call up calls Public Benefit oEducation ?Establishment of the Australian Schools committal ?Disadvantaged Schools course of study ?needs-based funding ?Expand the resources of poor grooms ?Abolition of tertiary education school fees Government funding of tertiary education ?Increase from 9% (1960) to 42% (1975) oMedibank ?System of national health insurance ?Time-based payments vs. fee for service ? arise connection between healthcare and money ?Originally payed 85% of the medical checkup bill oIncreased pensions ?25% of average adult weekly wage oPromotion of the liberal arts ?Improved facilities and pay for artists (musicians, artists, dancers, actors etc. ) ? Australian Film Commission ? field Film and Television Sch ool ?Australian National Gallery oA program to bring sewerage to all urban areasNational Identity oNew Australian passports no longer referred to as British subjects oAustralian national anthem oAustralian Heritage Commission Question (b) Evaluate (make own judgement + facts) how important ONE of these changes has been to Australias development. Diplomatic Relations with China ?Whitlam believed that Australia were following the foreign policies of our allies for too long ? The cold war mentality was no longer pertinent ?He saw the potential economic gains and advantages of a long term kinship with China ? Communist party took over China Guomindang re-established itself in Taiwan ?Many countries (including Australia) recognized the government in Taiwan as the official government of China ? Gough Whitlam wanted to form a kin with communist China, as he believed that communism was not a little terror ? The McMahon government refused to recognize the Peoples Republic of China ? In 1 971, Whitlam (as Leader of the Opposition) visited China and promised Mao Zedong (the Chinese leader) that he would establish diplomatic relations with China, if he won the election the following year ?China became members of the United Nations in 1971, and throughout Whitlams prime ministership, Australia supported their representation. ?Australias recognition of China was a pivotal moment in our history. ? scotch ?Australia had bonds with the largest economy of the world ? It gives us the boom in our resource application ?Two-way trade was $113 million in 1972 ?In 1973, a switch over Agreement was signed, granting mutual most favoured nation status ? It is now transcend $105 billion (2011) ?Benefits for both countries ?Three underlying principles in the relationship Mutual respect ?Recognition of differences ?Strong resolve to build on the interests we share ?Education ?1972 no Chinese students in Australia ?Present one hundred fifty 000 + Chinese students biggest source of foreign students oPossible conclusion In 1949, Australia and China were split by political differences, however Goughs Whitlam recognition of China in 1972 had resulted in 40 years of economic and social prosperity. Even though it involved the termination of the relationship with Taiwan, this major shift in foreign policy is praised for its long term successes.