WEEK 10 TUTORIAL: The Whitlam Years

(17 May – )

Tutorial question

Is the fall of the Whitlam government best explained as a conspiracy or as the result of broad social forces?

'It's Time', 1972 - was it? Explain the emergence of the 'new nationalism' of the 1970s. What were the most important achievements of the Whitlam government? Was Whitlam hero or villain? Where does the Whitlam government fit in the Labor tradition from Curtin and Chifley to Hawke to Keating? Who supported Whitlam, who opposed him, and who changed their minds? What problems faced those who sought to implement their social ideals through bureaucratic measures? How has the Whitlam government been remembered since 1975 and why? Does a conspiratorial view of history adequately deal with the events of 1975? What is the place of conspiracies in history generally? How did the legacy of the Whitlam years affected the Hawke-Keating governments? To what extent has there been a 'swing to the right' in Australia since 1972?

Essential reading:

Pilger, J A Secret Country London 1989 ch 5
McQueen, H Gallipoli to Petrov: Arguing with Australian History Sydney 1984 ch 21

Additional reading

Kerr J Matters for Judgement Melbourne 1978 ch 16-22
Whitlam E G The Whitlam Government 1972-1975 Ringwood 1985 ch 21
Brett, J. Australian Liberals and the Moral Middle Class (Cambridge, 2003) pp139-56
Sexton M Illusions of Power: The Fate of a Reform Government Sydney 1979 ch 11, 13

Other

Alomes S Nation at Last? The Changing Character of Australian Nationalism Sydney 1988
Barrett, Lindsay The Prime Minister's Christmas card : Blue poles and cultural politics in the Whitlam era Sydney 2001
Beams, N et al (eds) The Canberra Coup Sydney 1976
*Bolton G The Middle Way Melbourne 1990 Ch 9
Crowley F Tough Times: Australia in the Seventies Melbourne 1986
Emy H, Hughes D and Mathews R (eds) Whitlam Re-visited Melbourne 1993
*Freudenberg G A Certain Grandeur: Gough Whitlam in Politics Melbourne 1977
Howson, P The Howson Diaries: the Life of Politics Ringwood 1984
*Johnson C The Labor Legacy: Curtin, Chifley, Whitlam, Hawke Sydney 1989 Ch 7
Kelly, P The Unmaking of Gough Sydney 1976
Lake, Marilyn getting Equal: the history of Australian feminism Sydney 1999
Lloyd, C & A Clarke Kerr's King Hit Melbourne 1976
Low, D 'Wearing the Crown: New Reflections on the Dismissal, 1975', Politics 19(1) 1984
Macintyre S Winners and Losers Sydney 1985
Maddox G The Hawke Government and Labor Tradition Ringwood 1989 Ch 6
Menadue, John Things you learn along the way Melbourne 1999
Oakes, L Crash Through or Crash: the Unmaking of a Prime Minister Melbourne 1976
Patience A & B Head (eds) From Whitlam to Fraser Melbourne 1979
Rickard J Australia: A Cultural History Melbourne 1988 ch.10
*Sawer M Sisters in Suits: Women and public policy in Australia Sydney 1990 ch 1
Serle G The Creative Spirit in Australia Melbourne 1987, ch.10
Uren, Tom Straight Left Sydney 1994
Walter J The Leader: A Political Biography St Lucia 1980
Whitlam G The Truth of the Matter Ringwood 1979
Whitwell G The Treasury Line Sydney 1986