The second Whitlam ministry was formed on 19 December 1972 and remained in place until 12 June 1974.

Cabinet submissions

Most Cabinet business was conducted on the basis of formal submissions (which are also known as memoranda, minutes or agenda). As far as possible, submissions were circulated to all ministers prior to meetings.

After receiving Cabinet submissions, the Cabinet Office registered them and allocated a unique number. The first submission received by the Cabinet Office during its term was registered as number 1. Subsequent submissions were allocated consecutive running numbers.

Cabinet submissions once lodged could be withdrawn by their originating department or Minister. This could happen because:

• in the waiting period they were overtaken by events (including a forthcoming election); or
• the length of time that had elapsed since lodgment without being listed for consideration indicated that the matter was not a priority; or
• the Cabinet Office returned them as they did not comply with technical requirements (for example, there had been inadequate consultation).

In such cases all copies, other than a master copy retained by the Cabinet Office, were required to be returned to the originating department. Withdrawn submissions are not always found in the folders of submissions but can usually be found in the relevant Cabinet Office (‘CL') file.

The Whitlam Ministry considered 823 submissions in 1973. These include 63 submissions which were withdrawn before a decision was taken as well as four submissions which were withdrawn after a decision was reached. Decisions were not made on four submissions. A further three submissions were for information only and thus no decision was required, although a decision was recorded for one of these.

Cabinet did not consider all submissions. A number were withdrawn before being considered by Cabinet, or were not received. This is noted by the words ‘withdrawn' or ‘not received' after the submission title. Occasionally these submissions are not included in the submission series A5915. This is indicated by the title being in italics.

A copy of the submission may be located in the relevant Cabinet office file. A number of other submissions were only for Cabinet's information, and did not require a decision. The submission title notes where this is the case.

Cabinet decisions

As for submissions, Cabinet decisions were allocated a unique number in sequence. However, the decision number is not the same as the submission number to which it relates. This is because decisions are not made in order of receipt of submissions and many decisions were made without a submission.

Although much Cabinet business was conducted on the basis of submissions, the Prime Minister could decide to raise, or allow a colleague to raise, a matter without submission. In such cases, the Cabinet decision is the only formal record of such deliberations.

The Whitlam Ministry made a total of 1828 decisions in 1973, of which 692 were made without submission.

Copies of decisions are attached to the submission to which they relate. Copies of decisions without submission will be found in the folders of Cabinet decisions (A5925). These folders contain the full set of decisions of Cabinet for 1973 in numerical sequence.

Cabinet Office files

The Cabinet Office files (‘CL' files) contain the originals of the submissions, briefing papers and related decisions. They also contain departmental advice and exchanges between officials and Ministers not included in the formal Cabinet papers. There is a file in this series for most submissions.

There are three main series of 1973 Cabinet records:

Viewing 1973 Cabinet records

A complete listing of the 1973 Cabinet records (submissions, decisions and Cabinet Office files) can be accessed through the National Archives' online collection database, RecordSearch. Digital copies of the submissions and decisions can also be viewed in RecordSearch.

The original records can be ordered and viewed in the National Archives' Canberra reading room.

Cabinet notebooks

In 1973, the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (Sir Edward John Bunting), the Deputy Secretary (Peter Bailey), the First Assistant Secretary, Cabinet and Legislative Programming Division (Robert Linford) or the Assistant Secretary, Cabinet (Michael Wilson and later George Brouwer) attended most Cabinet meetings.

In general, three secretaries attended full Cabinet meetings, while two attended Cabinet committee meetings. Their role included the recording of proceedings so that minutes accurately reflecting the decisions made or conclusions reached could be prepared. These records of proceedings are referred to as Cabinet notebooks.

Under section 22A of the Archives Act 1983, Cabinet notebooks are not available to the public until 50 years have lapsed since their creation, unlike other Commonwealth records which are released after 30 years.

Departmental records

Detailed background papers and earlier drafts of the Cabinet papers can be found on the files of the department that sponsored each Cabinet submission. These papers reveal the deliberations of the Public Service on the topic and often include the opinions and guidance of the responsible Minister. These files can be identified through the Archives online database RecordSearch.

Personal records

The Archives also holds collections of personal records deposited by people who have been closely associated with the Commonwealth government in an official capacity, such as governors-general, prime ministers and ministers. These records may include official Commonwealth records as well as private, or personal, records.

Commonwealth records in these collections are subject to the usual access conditions of the Archives Act 1983 and are available 30 years from the date of creation, subject to the exemption of material of continuing sensitivity. Access to non-Commonwealth records in personal records collections is determined by the depositor. Please consult the Archives about the access conditions that apply to personal records you wish to access.

Personal records of Gough Whitlam

The National Archives holds an extensive collection of Gough Whitlam's personal records. It comprises almost 100 series of records covering the period 1952–78. Most of them were created by Whitlam as Prime Minister and as a Member of Parliament. The records include subject and correspondence files, media releases and speeches, Labor Party material, photographs, audio tapes, films, invitations and press clippings. Some relate to Whitlam's activities after he retired from politics.

Although the official records in this collection are not available until 30 years after they were created, access to non-Commonwealth material within the collection may be requested 25 years from the date of creation.

Further details about Whitlam's personal records can also be found in our collection database RecordSearch. Enter Whitlam's Commonwealth person number (CP 99) into the field for 'Reference numbers', then select 'Series' from the 'Search' drop-down menu.

Australia's Prime Ministers website introduces the careers of Gough and Margaret Whitlam, and is illustrated with unique records and photographs from our collection. It includes a complete list of the elections Whitlam contested and a one-page ‘Fast Facts' with dates, portfolios and little known quiz facts.

The Whitlam page in the Prime ministers section of this website offers introductions to personal, departmental and photographic records relating to the Whitlams held by the Archives.

There was only one ministry and Cabinet in 1973, the second Whitlam ministry. Members of the Cabinet are listed below. The roles and titles ascribed to them are those held in 1973.

Second Whitlam Cabinet

The second Whitlam ministry was elected at a meeting of the parliamentary caucas of the Australian Labor Party on 19 December 1972 and remained in place until a general election on 18 May 1974.

It was succeeded by the Third Whitlam Ministry which was dismissed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, on 11 November 1975.

The Second Whitlam Ministry reverted to the original practice which existed before 1956 with all members of the ministry sitting as members of Cabinet. The allocation of portfolios in 1973 is indicated below.

Cabinet committees

Cabinet committees were first formally established by Prime Minister Menzies in 1950. Their role was to assist Cabinet to make decisions more expeditiously and efficiently by:

• having a committee of ministers sift through the issues and the facts and present Cabinet with a clear recommendation for action; and
• relieving Cabinet of much business of lesser importance.

The 1973 committees of the Whitlam Cabinet

Some of the political figures in Australia in 1973 who are still active in the community are listed below. The roles and titles ascribed to them are those they held in 1973.

Government Ministers

Government Members of Parliament

Opposition Members of Parliament

Senior public servants