A Different Australia - A Wikibox TL (new and revised)

The election of 1966 was held only months after the assassination of the Labor party leader, Arthur Calwell. His successor, Gough Whitlam, began a rapid programme of party modernisation, abandoning the most controversial Labor policies, particularly the White Australia policy.
The Liberal party also had new leadership in the form of Harold Holt. Under Holt the Liberal party remained relatively united, and with a strong economy, and relatively popular military intervention in Vietnam, the government was always likely to be re-elected.
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As expected, the Coalition government was re-elected, but unexpectedly the government faced a small swing against it, and actually lost seats. Labor hopes were high for 1969.
 
The 1969 election centred heavily on the two party Leaders, Gough Whitlam and John Gorton. Gorton inherited a small but workable majority in parliament from his predecessor, the late Harold Holt. However Gorton's policies and personality alienated many more conservative Liberal voters, and the Vietnam war, which in 1966 had been relatively popular with the public was now much more controversial. Whitlam on the other hand had modernised his party, abandoning old and outdated policies, such as the White Australia policy, and the ideological commitment to nationalisation.
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The election was seen as a major realigning election, as it ended the long period of Liberal hegemony in Canberra, and ushered in a new reforming Labor government. After 20 years in power, many Australians simply wanted a change....and change they got.
 
The first Whitlam government (1969-72) was amongst the most reforming and radical in Australian history.
In Foreign Affairs Whitlam secured the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam, narrowly within the July 1st 1970 deadline he set upon coming to power. In 1971 Whitlam became the first western leader to visit communist China, pre-empting a visit by US President Nixon. Conscription was also abolished in 1971.

However it was in domestic policy where the Whitlam government was most radical, abolishing University fees, establishing the Australian schools commission and abolishing the death penalty. The government also began a series of Urban development projects, and via a referendum brought the Railway system under federal government control.
But it was the creation of the National Healthcare System (NHS) that proved the most popular and expansive of the Whitlam government's reforms, providing free healthcare at the point of delivery (either through health insurance or federal/state run hospitals) paid for through taxation.

Meanwhile in opposition the Liberal/Country coalition proved incoherent and divided. The Liberal party split between supporters of John Gorton (who resigned the leadership before all the results had been declared in 1969), and William McMahon. The split ran bitter and deep, and McMahon was regularly outflanked by Whitlam in parliament, and was a poor media performer.

In August 1972 Whitlam called an election, running on his government's record, and claiming McMahon was "not yesterday's man...the day before yesterday's man".

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The election was a disaster for the coalition losing three seats and with McMahon only narrowly holding his own seat.
 
The Second Whitlam government (1972-75) was dominated by the first oil shock. At first it appeared as though Australia would make it through the crisis unscathed, but by early 1974 it was clear that inflation and unemployment were on the increase. As a response the government introduced the so called Big Bang project, of massive federal investment in infrastructure and harnessing Australia's natural resources, the brainchild of Industry minister Rex Connor. Big Bang, although initially successful at reducing unemployment, proved incredibly expensive, and the 1974-75 federal budget recorded a record deficit.

Also in 1974 the government came to an accord with the ACTU, led by Bob Hawke, with regard to fixing wage increases in an attempt to reduce inflation.
By the time the 1975 election came around, unemployment was running at nearly 5%, and inflation was out of control. The Liberal Party was confident that it could win a large and decisive victory.
The 1975 election was also the first to feature a televised Leaders debate between Whitlam and the Liberal leader Billy Snedden, millions tuned in to watch. Whitlam was judged the winner, with Snedden appearing stiff and uncharismatic.
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Labour won a historic third term, with its majority almost unscathed.
 
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