About this record

This is a colour photograph of Edward Gough Whitlam, Australia's twenty-first prime minister. It shows him attending a United Nations convention during a tour of the United States of America in 1974. 

Whitlam took office as prime minister in 1972 after leading the opposition for five years. His was the first Labor government in more than 20 years. During his time in opposition, he led a number of reforms to his party and, once in office, he continued to push for reform on a wide range of issues for the people of Australia. He attempted to address matters of human rights, international relations, education, health, housing and the environment. The Whitlam government was dismissed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, on 11 November 1975.