Some of Gough's achievements:
* the Australian Heritage Commission and funding for heritage conservation,
* ratification of the World Heritage Convention,
* return of their land to the Gurindji people,
* Aboriginal Land Rights Commission,
* drafting of the Land Rights Act,
* creation of a Commonwealth department of Aboriginal Affairs,
* environmental protection legislation,
* protection the Great Barrier Reef,
* treaties to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems,
* the Australia Council for the Arts,
* the National Gallery of Australia,
* encouragement of the Australian film and television industries including opening the Film and Television School,
* reformation of Australian radio and introduction of Triple J.

Now, before certain persons pooh-pooh these, I would note that the Aboriginal oriented ones were a follow-on from the 1967 referendum, which was carried by a Coalition Government - something similar would eventually have happened regardless of the Party in government.

In general the focus on creative arts and environment was a redressing of the balance since these areas had been neglected previously. It was about time the other half of the population got government action on things that were important to them.

In response to Hasbeen:

"Destroying the lives of tens of thousands of aboriginals by his labour law reforms." I tend to agree, it would have been much fairer if the laws had been changed so that white pastoral workers had the same shoddy conditions as Aboriginal ones. Why not? That concept could have been extended to all industries - pay everyone what Aborigines got.

"Destroying the people of PNG by giving them independence about 30 years before they were ready for it." Whether or not independence 'destroyed the people of PNG', it would have been counterproductive to try and delay independence to 2006. That would have risked active independence movements (similar to West Irian today), possibly even terrorist warfare and potential involvement by other Pacific states and Indonesia. PNG would have got independence by now by whatever route, but we could have ended up with an antagonistic neighbour.

"Setting in train our ridiculous higher education system, so we could graduate thousands of useless each year." Leaving aside the concepts of 'ridiculous' and 'useless' (PS gone to a doctor younger than 65 recently?), Whitlam's free university education didn't last very long, and since it's nearly 40 years since he was removed, there are just a few other people (on both sides of politics) who have had a hand the higher education system.

Please let his passing wake us up!
RIP Comrade.

One thing's for sure - this legacy of a man of the stature of Gough Whitlam surely highlights the profound midgetry of the govt presently serving us.

(And if "midgetry" is not a word - it should be - as it describes perfectly the present debacle-slash-govt)

Will also add for Hasbeen...I bet you admire Whitlam for providing you with good/free health care - especially with all your heart problems.

Gratitude much!

Malcolm Fraser - twitter:

"Gough Whitlam A great Australian, opening new doors, new futures, tradition justice, fair play, egalitarianism, Australian identity."

Seems he has some grace on such a day - more than we can say for some on this thread (and a few right-wing media mouths and pollies)

Cossomby, your list just reinforces how many stupid & expensive, for no return, things he did, I had forgotten many. He was also responsible for no fault divorce wasn't he, & probably the Family law court. If so he should be doubly cursed.

PNG were not pushing for, & did not want independence.

Aboriginals were being given what they were worth, where mostly the entire tribe were supported. His interference set bush aboriginals back a decade or more.

Poirot, I pay my own way with health.

I rate Fraser about equal to Whitlam, or perhaps a little lower. He did have the advantage of Howard advising him, he was just too gutless to take the advice, where Whitlam was surrounded by ratbags.

Fraser today is of course totally senile, so his current opinions are worthless, as were most in his day.