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Gough Whitlam Quotes
1916–2014 Australia
Gough Whitlam (11 July 1916 – 21 October 2014) was the 21st Prime Minister of Australia, serving from December 1972 to November 1975. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party, and was its longest-serving leader.
Also known as: Gough Whitlam/
Random Gough Whitlam quote
10 quotes
The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race.
The Country Party never forgave him for saying that their members sat on the fence with both ears to the ground.
He reveals that he has been a poor politician, a bad judge and a malevolent individual.
Abiding Interests (1997)
Let me make quite clear that I am for abortion and, in your case sir, we should make it retrospective.
We would do absolutely nothing. Now that's a blunt, truthful answer.
I was profoundly embarrassed by it and did all I could to change it.
A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic.
Self-quoted in The Whitlam Government 1972–1975 (1985)
If I begin my book with a review of the coup, it is only to show that my abiding interests for Australia did not end with it. They shall end only with a long and fortunate life.
Abiding Interests (1997)
Vincent Lingiari, I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people and I put into your hands part of the earth itself as a sign that this land will be the possession of you and your children forever.
When Sir Winton Turnbull [who represented a large rural seat], a slow and sometimes stumbling speaker, was raving and ranting on the adjournment and shouted: "I am a Count–ry member". I interjected "I remember". Sir Winton could not understand why, for the first time in all the years he had been speaking in the House, there was instant and loud applause from both sides.