Women and Whitlam

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 divorce and the Family Court, introduced paid maternity leave in the public service, and much more. At a time when women are once again discovering their political voice, this book brings together three generations of women – including Patricia Amphlett, Elizabeth Reid, Eva Cox, Tanya Plibersek, Heidi Norman, Blair Williams and Ranuka Tandan – to revisit the Whitlam revolution and to build on it for the future.