WHITLAM'S KEY REFORMS:
* Abolished military conscription
* Recognised communist China and reopened the Australian Embassy in Peking for first time in 24 years
* Established national health scheme, paving the way for Medicare
* Brought in free university education
* Returned traditional Aboriginal lands to the Gurindiji people in the Northern Territory
* Empowered indigenous people to reclaim land rights by starting the Aboriginal Lands Commission and drafting the Land Rights Act
* Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18
* Introduced Legal Aid for those unable to afford proper representation
* Abolished the death penalty for federal crimes
* Introduced no-fault divorces
WHITLAM'S KEY FAILURES:
* Economy worsened during his government
* Inflation rose to 13 per cent
* Unemployment rose to five per cent
* The Loans Affair - Whitlam authorised Minerals and Energy Minister Rex Connor to borrow $4 billion in petrodollars via Pakistani broker Tirath Khemlani despite treasury opposition. The money never came through
* Misread Governor-General Sir John Kerr, whom he had appointed, during the supply crisis that led to his dismissal
* Lost 1975 election by the biggest majority in Australian history
* Lost 1977 election after only achieving a 1.1 per cent swing
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