Women and Whitlam: Revisiting the revolution

The Whitlam Government transformed Australia. What is often overlooked, however, is the scope and scale of the reforms for Australian women. The Whitlam Government of 1972– 1975 appointed a women' s advisor to national government – a world first – and reopened the equal pay case. It extended the minimum wage for women, introduced the single mother' s benefit, ensured cheap and accessible contraception, funded women' s refuges and women' s health centres, introduced accessible, no-fault divo...