Former Whitlam minister Kep Enderby dies

Kep Earl Enderby QC, who served in the Whitlam government, has died aged 88.

Former Whitlam government minister Kep Earl Enderby QC has died aged 88.

Mr Enderby was a Labor representative for the ACT from 1970 to 1975.

Acting Labor leader Tony Burke said the party was saddened by the news of Mr Enderby's passing.

"As a member of the House of Representatives, Kep served with distinction," he said in a statement on Friday.

After leaving politics, Mr Enderby became a Justice in the NSW Supreme Court.

He was the Whitlam government's Attorney-General, introducing a bill to decriminalise abortion and homosexuality in the ACT, and the Minister for the ACT and the NT in 1972 and 1973.

Mr Enderby was also an outspoken chair of the Serious Offenders Review Council in 2000, saying up to 80 per cent of Australia's prison population should be released.

He said jailing criminals was counterproductive in the vast majority of cases.