Gough Whitlam Quotes

11 Sourced 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.

Gough Whitlam
A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic.
The Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Sir Billy Snedden, has broken his promise: the promise he made to me before the election. He promised not to tell any lies about me, if I didn't tell the truth about him.

Gough Whitlam
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.

Gough Whitlam
The Country Party never forgave him for saying that their members sat on the fence with both ears to the ground.

Gough Whitlam
Well may we say 'God save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General'.

Gough Whitlam
When asked what a Labor government would do if Indonesia were to invade East Timor, in an interview three days before the invasion:
We would do absolutely nothing. Now that's a blunt, truthful answer.

Gough Whitlam
I was profoundly embarrassed by it [the White Australia Policy] and did all I could to change it.

Gough Whitlam
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.

Gough Whitlam
He reveals that he has been a poor politician, a bad judge and a malevolent individual.

Gough Whitlam
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.

Gough Whitlam
Of Sir John Kerr, who had just dismissed Whitlam as prime minister:
Well may he say 'God Save the Queen'. But after this nothing will save the Governor-General…Maintain your rage and your enthusiasm through the campaign for the election now to be held and until polling day.

Gough Whitlam