Former prime minister Gough Whitlam dead at 98

And here I am going to wrap up our coverage of the reaction to the death of former prime minister Gough Whitlam.

Thank you for joining me and Andrew Meares as we suspended our usual political coverage. We, along with Alex Ellinghausen, will be back in the morning.

 

Gough Whitlam on the Great Wall of China during a visit in 1971.Credit: Fairfax archive

Prime Minister Tony Abbott with his ministers after a condolence motion for former prime minister Gough Whitlam on Tuesday.Credit: Andrew Meares

Political reporter Latika Bourke has written this piece on the condolence motion held in Parliament earlier today.

"Former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull has choked back tears as MPs, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Labor leader Bill Shorten, lined up to pay tribute to former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam, who died on Tuesday, aged 98," Latika writes.

You can read the full story here.

 

The Australian Labor Party has released a statement on the death of Gough of Whitlam: "It is quite beyond the power of words to describe in any completeness how much Gough Whitlam achieved for Australia and for Australian Labor."

"Gough remade our party's ideas, stamping a social democratic identity based on education, equality and opportunity deep into our soul."

"In everything he ever did, Gough Whitlam led. Even in the arc of his own leadership, from controversial reformer in opposition to modernising prime minister in government to romantic hero in his post prime ministerial career, he redefined the Labor way."

Parliament is now standing for a minute's silence to remember Mr Whitlam.

That brings the proceedings to a close.

Former prime minister, John Howard, has also offered his thoughts:

"Gough Whitlam brought to public life high intelligence, a commanding presence and a strong belief that government intervention could solve most of society's problems," Mr Howard said in a statement.

"The election victory of 1972 was his greatest achievement. He led the Labor party back into government, after the wasteland, of 23 years of opposition, characterised by a disastrous split and an over long dalliance with attitudes no longer relevant to a rapidly changing Australia. With flair, and notwithstanding considerable resistance, he reformed and modernised the Australian Labor Party."

"Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister when I entered Parliament in 1974. His ready wit, eloquence and prodigious recall gave him an easy mastery of the parliamentary arena."

Front page of The Age newspaper from Wednesday 12 November 1975.

How The Age reported the dismissal.

The man who became the next Labor prime minister, Bob Hawke, says "today is not a day for sadness".

"He was ready to go. It's time for remembrance of a great life."

"With the passing of Gough Whitlam, Australia has lost one of the brightest starts ever to light our political firmament."

"What I think was most remarkable about this great start was the breadth of his concerns about issues he saw as relevant to establishing a socially just society, and a secure nation, in a rapidly changing world."

"Very simply Australia is a significantly better country because of the life and work of Gough Whitlam. I remember him not only with immense respect but also with great affection."

We are nearly at the end of the parliamentary condolence motion.

In case you would like to refresh your memory about the numerous reforms introduced by the Whitlam government look no further than this piece by the Age's former economics editor, Tim Colebatch.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is now remembering the man who was his constituent. Gough would loudly address him as "My member".

Mr Turnbull remembers working with Mr Whitlam during the 1999 referendum for a republic. It was Mr Turnbull who brought Malcolm Fraser and Mr Whitlam together to campaign for a republic.

"Malcolm, I am tired of these professors, no associate professers, theorising about constitutional crises," Mr Whitlam told him. "I know about constitutional crises."

 

You can now watch a video of Mr Abbott's speech here.