Wheatley Gough (Whitlam Gough)

(p. 1916)
Born in Kew (a suburb of Melbourne) July 11, 1916. During the Second World War he served in the Australian Air Force. In 1952 he was elected to the House of Representatives from the Labor Party. In 1960 he became deputy leader of the Labor Party, and in 1967 was elected chairman of the Party. In December 1972, after Labor's victory in the elections, became prime minister. Established diplomatic relations with China, . abolished conscription, . racial restrictions on immigration, . strengthened the role of central government, . expanded public education and social welfare, . introduced universal health insurance and reduced the tax burden for the poor,
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In 1974, when the Senate failed the next financial bill, Wheatley dissolved parliament and called new elections. Labor Party once again won the majority seats in the House of Representatives, but the majority in the Senate left for other parties. Meanwhile, the country's acute problems associated with unemployment and inflation. In the elections of 1975 the Labor Party suffered a crushing defeat. After another defeat Labor in 1977, Wheatley resigned as party leader. In 1978 renounced his seat in Parliament. In 1983, Wheatley was appointed ambassador to UNESCO, and remained in that post until 1986. During the 1990's played an active role in a number of international organizations.