On 21 October 2014, former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam passed away aged 98.
Prime Minister between 1972 and 1975, Mr Whitlam AC, achieved momentous change during his time in government. Amongst the reforms implemented by Mr Whitlam’s government – which also included the establishment of universal access to university education, the introduction of the universal healthcare system now known as Medicare, the first steps towards the recognition of Aboriginal land rights, the introduction of no-fault divorce and the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act – was the introduction of the Trade Practices Act 1974, which continues in force today as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Former head of the Trade Practices Commission (established by the Whitlam Government and continuing today as the ACCC), Bob Baxt, said today in the Sydney Morning Herald that this legislation is “the most important and significant commercial legislation we have in this country – they have changed the way business is done.”
Vale Gough.
Photo credit: National Library of Australia
