Whether you were for him or against him, it was his vision that drove our politics then and which still echoes through our public life four decades on.
Tony Abbott, Prime Minister
No one who lived through the Whitlam era will ever forget it – and perhaps nobody born after it can ever really imagine it.
Bill Shorten, Opposition Leader
I have often thought it fitting that Gough Whitlam was Australia's 21st prime minister. Because with Gough as prime minister, Australia came of age.
Tanya Plibersek, Deputy Opposition Leader
And he undoubtedly encouraged me, though he didn't wish to do so, to be engaged in the political process. I joined a political party too. But it wasn't the Labor Party.
Warren Truss, Deputy Prime Minister
It seems appropriate to invoke Shakespeare in talking of such a great man: "He was a man. Take him for all in all, I will not look upon his like again."
Chris Bowen, Shadow Treasurer
I said to Gough [after Whitlam's view was blocked by fog at Turnbull's Hunter Valley property] "I'm really sorry, it is a nice view here, but sorry you can't see it." He said "Don't be concerned, I'm completely at home. It's just like Olympus."
Malcolm Turnbull, Communications Minister
He cared about our future. It was a heady time for those of us who wanted a society that was more open and more equal. Finally, we had a government prepared to deliver on the changes to society we wanted.
Jenny Macklin, Opposition spokeswoman on Families
The rich tapestry of their life together is interwoven into our national history. The story of Gough and Margaret Whitlam is one of devotion and dedication to each other, to our community, to our nation.
Julie Bishop, Foreign Minister
"Senator Vanstone, for whom I work, is putting a book together of the great Parliamentary speeches and would like to include one of yours, Mr Whitlam," I said. "Which one would you like me to include?" He said, "Any one will do."
Christopher Pyne, Education Minister
He was someone who, whether in a small room at a dinner or at a public event, everyone else seemed to fade to black and white, while this giant of a man – physically, intellectually – appeared there in full colour and dominated wherever he was.
Anthony Albanese, Opposition spokesman on Infrastructure
