Gough

[Bushmiller]

"Martyr for a moment: Legend for a lifetime."

Malcolm Fraser


What a wonderful, poignant and ironic comment.

Regards Paul

[The Bleeder]

Gough,

Sharp as a tack and according to a mate of mine a really nick bloke. They were both having treatment at St Vincents hospital a few years ago.

He was always polite to the nursing staff and was never demanding.

RIP.

[artme]

Yep, One of those people for whom many held passionate views.

The retrospectoscopes will be working overtime for some time, I should think.

[Twisted Tenon]

He believed in the power of one, so long as he was the one. Yet he had the common touch. Michael Pascoe in today's Herald summed up my feelings the best.

TT

[fxst]

Unfortunately I see it as 1 less leech sucking the system dry. When you leave or retire from or get the boot from a job you don't continue to get paid for the rest of your life by the company so why should they.
Having said that he was a great reformer however tried too much too fast and it cost him dearly. RIP
Petehttp://d1r5wj36adg1sk.cloudfront.net/images/smilies/standard/mad.gif

[doug3030]

Gough nationalized the health system - and in the process destroyed the Queensland health system which was the best free hospital system in the world.

Gough set up the "age of entitlement" society dependent on social security, which has been bleeding our economy white for 40 years and now that we have a prime minister and treasurer who are trying to end it everyone is opposing them.

Gough did so much in such a short time - some good - some bad. On the balance I think he probably did slightly less damage than most Labor Prime Ministers since WW2, but then its not hard to out-perform Rudd, Gillard and Keating

I think Jim Cairnes did more for the country in a one-night naked romp on the lawns of Kirribilli House with Juni Morosi than what Gough achieved in 3 years as Prime Minister.

[FenceFurniture]

A man who inspired more than any other I know of in politics, and who had the grandest of visions. Yet at the same time he didn't seem to have the wherewithal to make many of them happen (or happen properly). Perhaps he needed a (too young at the time - in his mid-20s) Paul Keating as his "make it happen" Deputy or Treasurer.

On a personal level it seems he was difficult to dislike.

On a spectator level, he left us with this gem:
http://anti-joke.com/anti-joke/page/...-member-yes-we

and I can just see him pivoting around in his chair to grin at his party with a supercilious smirk, enjoying the hilarity of the moment.

[Bushmiller]

On a spectator level, he left us with this gem:
http://anti-joke.com/anti-joke/page/...-member-yes-we

and I can just see him pivoting around in his chair to grin at his party with a supercilious smirk, enjoying the hilarity of the moment.

Brett

A favourite Gough story.

Regards
Paul

[wheelinround]

Gough nationalized the health system - and in the process destroyed the Queensland health system which was the best free hospital system in the world.

Gough set up the "age of entitlement" society dependent on social security, which has been bleeding our economy white for 40 years and now that we have a prime minister and treasurer who are trying to end it everyone is opposing them.

Gough did so much in such a short time - some good - some bad. On the balance I think he probably did slightly less damage than most Labor Prime Ministers since WW2, but then its not hard to out-perform Rudd, Gillard and Keating

I think Jim Cairnes did more for the country in a one-night naked romp on the lawns of Kirribilli House with Juni Morosi than what Gough achieved in 3 years as Prime Minister.

A little history on "Social security"

Gough did set up the age of entitlement and he got it for 40 years as does every politician and government employee all paid out of the same purse. Since Gough government dep have grown exponentially the need for as well as employment of family into the system. All of Goughs children work for Government and they say there is no Nepotism in politics or government departments.



Heres a recent photo of "Age of Entitlement" just five ex-prime ministers rakig in a total of approx $20mil between them not to mention what they make besides their pensions and entitlements.
The one with the biggest laugh is the one to thank the most.

[steamingbill]

A little history on "Social security"


Heres a recent photo of "Age of Entitlement" just five ex-prime ministers raking in a total of approx $20mil between them not to mention what they make besides their pensions and entitlements.
The one with the biggest laugh is the one to thank the most.

Thats interesting.

So is that $20m per year or an expected total over their lifetime ?

And closer to the original topic - I thought that Gough had stature and presence and dignity that seems to be lacking in current day leaders. Other leaders from the past has similar qualities or maybe I've just got nostalgic rose coloured glasses on ?

Bill

[FenceFurniture]

Surely it couldn't possibly be $20m per year. The salary for the current PM is (from the Australian):
The Australian prime minister earns $507,338 in annual salary and allowances combined. But when their electorate allowance is added - a taxable payment that can either be spent or pocketed - the salary banked by Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd was $539,338.

So, assuming that the figure of $4m per PM is correct over their expected life, and an Ex-PM might have a life after politics of say 20 years (on average), that's $200,000 per year. If that's correct then I just don't have a problem with it (nor would I have a problem with 5x that amount). They have, after all, given their best years to public service, and had the most stressful job in the country, and you can bet that any of them who had a short term as PM (Gough, Rudd from that lot) would MUCH rather have had a longer term of service.....

[FenceFurniture]

From ABC News just now:

Former prime minister Gough Whitlam has been described overnight in Beijing as "the father of China-Australia relations".

Under his leadership, at the height of the Cold War, Australia became one of the first Western nations to recognise the communist government as the legitimate rulers of that vast and, at the time, isolated country.

The rest of the article is here.

I think it would be pretty safe to say that our economy is largely in the shape that it is (and has been for 20 years of uninterrupted growth) primarily because of that one simple action. That's not a bad gift to the country (I know he stuffed up royally elsewhere). He was a big picture man.

[wheelinround]

Thats interesting.

So is that $20m per year or an expected total over their lifetime ?

And closer to the original topic - I thought that Gough had stature and presence and dignity that seems to be lacking in current day leaders. Other leaders from the past has similar qualities or maybe I've just got nostalgic rose coloured glasses on ?

Bill

Bill recently an email going round had the break down of pensions for pollies, (I thought I'd kept it) it had been produced by a Monash uni prof and it listed all and sundry what was paid as well as staff travel cars and it equated close to $2 mil each. Thats indexed for life!! and when they pass on it passes on to spouse. When Bill McMahon passed on Sonia got his pension till she past on.Its not just main politicians either state and heads get the same pleasure. TAX FREE.

I know no other industry or employment that does this after you are sacked, walk out the door, leave etc.

As for stature and dignity looks can be deceiving met Gough twice once both times I was in primary school and I formed my opinion then he only made it worse as he lead the country in my first few years of working and my first time at voting at age 18.

[wheelinround]

Surely it couldn't possibly be $20m per year. The salary for the current PM is (from the Australian):
The Australian prime minister earns $507,338 in annual salary and allowances combined. But when their electorate allowance is added - a taxable payment that can either be spent or pocketed - the salary banked by Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd was $539,338.

So, assuming that the figure of $4m per PM is correct over their expected life, and an Ex-PM might have a life after politics of say 20 years (on average), that's $200,000 per year. If that's correct then I just don't have a problem with it (nor would I have a problem with 5x that amount). They have, after all, given their best years to public service, and had the most stressful job in the country, and you can bet that any of them who had a short term as PM (Gough, Rudd from that lot) would MUCH rather have had a longer term of service.....

Bret see reply to Bill above I'll try locate the email mentioned.

Thats while they are in not after retirement, sacking, ousting, TAX FREE Its also indexed for life and they can earn what ever they like on top in another job, from book sales, interviews, ++++.

$4mil I figured $2mil each per year x 5 PM's = $20mil you've just double that. LOL There's a place for you in federal politics.

Gough did just shy of 40 years after his dismissal we have been paying for it since. Hawke was ousted by his own party became a back bencher still gets PM pension for life whom will his go to when he dies???,
Rudd and Gillard (who will her's go to when she passes on???) they shared their time also both get TAX FREE pensions. Keating again divorced where will his go.

Oh there is also GG's get similar, high court judges and it whittles its way down the line.




Some years ago Harrold Holts wife Dame Bates?? tried and I think won to get his pension passed onto her. Sonia lived off Billy's long after he passed on.

[wheelinround]

here is news media on pensions http://www.news.com.au/finance/super...-1226885213040

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/reque...s_pensions_ben

Most of these are for super schemes although they mention pensions during Gillard/Rudd term they closed access to some info if I recall.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politi...627-2p06f.html